Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 23 2010:
The Gauhati High Court has fined an employee of the Home Department for his inordinate delay in dispatching a representation submitted by an NSA detainee to the Home Ministry seeking revocation of the detention order.
A Division Bench of Gauhati High Court passed a ruling in this regard after hearing a writ petition (criminal) filed by the NSA detainee on March 19 .
Yumnam ningol Thingnam ongbi Ibethoi of Chingamakha Maisnam Leikai was arrested by Imphal West police commandos along with Salam ningol Irom ongbi Romeobala from the office of the Salai Apunba Nupi Lamjing Lup on May 22 last year.
Imphal West District Magistrate issued an order to detain the two women under NSA on May 26 .
On June 5, petitioner Ibethoi submitted a representation to the Additional SP of Sajiwa Jail for dispatch to the Union Home Ministry (Department of Internal Security) seeking revocation of the detention order.
The Home Ministry received the detention order on June 24 which was rejected on June 29 after perusal.
Affidavit submitted by the State Government claimed that the representation was dispatched on June 10.But on checking the dispatch register, it was found that the representation was sent on June 17 .
The Division Bench observed that the concerned clerk/grade-IV employee who had been instructed to send the letter to the Central Government cannot leisurely and carelessly discharge their duty in the case involving life and personal liberty of a citizen.
The Court instructed the State Home Commissioner/Secretary to conduct an enquiry to identify the derelict employee within a month and also to recover Rs 15,000 from the salary of the negligent employee as exemplary cost.
The same amount should be deposited in the fund of the All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) for use in providing legal aid to poor residents of Manipur, mentioned the order.
A Commissioner/Secretary (Home) should submit a compliance report within three months.
However, the Court made no interference in the detention order of May 25 and confirmation order of July 10 last year with regard to the petitioner.