The Manipur High Court closed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed for the conduct of elections to 26 urban local bodies in Imphal West, Imphal East, Jiribam, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur Districts of Manipur and to the Imphal Municipal Corporation.
The PIL filed by lawyer Sanaoujam Shyamcharan Singh made this prayer as the term of the elected bodies had expired but the State authorities failed to initiate steps for holding fresh elections. This failure was due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the State of Manipur.
Lenin Hijam, Advocate General, Manipur, stated on instructions that the State Cabinet has taken a decision to hold elections to the Urban Local Bodies as well as the Imphal Municipal Corporation before the end of November 2022.
He further apprised the Bench that formal notifications are yet to be issued in that regard.
In the light of the firm commitment given by the Advocate General, Manipur, on the basis of the instructions received by him, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice M.V. Muralidaran opined that it would suffice at this stage if the commitment of the State authorities is taken on record and they are permitted sufficient time to make good on such commitment.