After almost a year of filing disqualification petition before the speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) against seven of its MLAs by NPF for defying the party whip during parliamentary election, Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench has directed the speaker and the seven MLAs to appear before it on April 3, 2020.
The court also granted liberty to the NLA speaker to adjudicate the disqualification petitions lying before him on March 20.
Representing the petitioners Dr Chotisuh Sazo and Imkong LImchen, Supreme Court lawyer Siddharth Borgohain said this at a press conference held at NPF’s central office here on Friday afternoon.
He explained that as the speaker did not act on the disqualification petition filed on April 24, 2019 under various pretexts, the petitioners filed a writ petition at Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench.
He said it was unfortunate that the speaker was acting at the behest of the ruling coalition. Borgohain said the speaker had asked the petitioners and the seven suspended MLAs on February 18 to submit the issues to adjudicate the matter on March 20 at NLA secretariat. He however added that the petitioners had time and again submitted the framed issues and hence the order was nothing but only showed that the speaker did not apply his mind.
The lawyer remarked that as the speaker held a constitutional position, he was supposed to function above party politics, but regretted that the NLA speaker’s conduct was questionable.
Borgohain explained that the petitioners had filed the petition at the high court seeking issuing of directive to the speaker to decide the disqualification petition in a time-bound manner as per the direction of Supreme Court issued in Manipur Legislative Assembly case wherein the apex court had observed that the speakers were supposed to act in neutral manner so that the spirit of 10 Schedule survived.
Sazo, who was present on the occasion, said the speaker had first asked him to submit the framed issues on November 15, after which it was postponed to December and then to February 18 just to delay the matter.
NPF secretary general Achumbemo Kikon mentioned that the court taking cognizance of the petition itself showed that the matter was serious and it was time bound that needed immediate adjudication.
He hoped the speaker would use his wisdom to decide.
Opposition party’s duty to point out failures: Kikon
Meanwhile, reacting to the response of NDPP to the criticism of PDA government by his party, NPF secretary general Achumbemo Kikon asserted that it was the bounden duty of an opposition party to point out the failures of the government and therefore the ruling coalition need not react but show its sincerity.
He claimed that NPF during its reign had brought all road schemes, while the PDA had brought no new schemes, funding and could not even execute whatever funds were brought by NPF and therefore declared that the opposition had every right to ask questions.
He said his party was aware how much money had been sanctioned, though execution on ground was pathetic and almost nil.
Kikon alleged that the first year of the PDA government witnessed controversies, which only increased n the second year.
He observed that people approaching governor for redressing their grievances instead of seeking the elected government itself showed that there was no semblance of governance and warned that the way the government functioned would only create chaos and confusion in the society.
On Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) on Naga Political Issue, he said NPF had only pointed out how the human rights activist was held, but NDPP directed the blame to NPF, which had no connection.
Kikon questioned the seriousness of the PDA government on Naga political issue as it chose to remain silent even when human rights activists were prevented from travelling abroad. He said it should be the duty of the government to ensure that peace process progressed and reiterated his party’s commitment to resolution of the Naga political issue.
He also questioned what “successful conclusion” of Naga peace talks on October 30, 2019 meant when there was still no outcome.
On the comment of NNPGs to go ahead with signing the agreement, Kikon stressed that solution, as resolved by NPF, should be inclusive, honourable and acceptable, adding that his party would continue to stand by this resolution.
Meanwhile, to spread awareness on coronavirus, Kikon said NPF had started awareness programmes for the general public across the length and breadth of the State.