NPF welcomes SC ruling

Newmai News Network
DIMAPUR, Jan 27: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) said that it "wholeheartedly" welcomes the Supreme Court’s ruling on Anti-Defection Law and for directing the Parliament to rethink over the power of the Speaker in deciding petitions seeking disqualification of lawmakers who also belong to a political party.
"With Supreme Court’s directive, the Parliament is to set up an independent tribunal to decide disqualification petitions within a reasonable time to give teeth to the anti-defection law instead of leaving it to the Speakers who continue to remain political party members either de jure or de facto," stated the NPF in a statement.
In this regard, the NPF urged the Parliament to do away with quasi-judicial authority of a Speaker in matters of disqualification petitions, "as this system has proved a failure and ineffective since the Speaker also belongs to a particular political party and he/she can be swayed by his political interests". In many cases, said the NPF, the disqualification petition which is to be decided within reasonable period of time is lingered on to indefinite periods. According to the NPF, the classic example of unreasonable and delay at hand is the disqualification petition against 7 MLAs (NPF) which is still lying in Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Speaker’s Court for the past 10 months which warrants early disposal as per the directive of the SC in Manipur case is as much as the case is similarly situated.
"In the recent case of Manipur Congress MLA's disqualification case, the 3 Judge bench of the Apex Court directed the Speaker to dispose the case within 4 weeks failing of which petitioner can approach the HC.  In general term, the Apex Court has given direction that Speaker should not sit over disqualification petition for more than 3 months," the NPF added.
"We are of the strong view that this judgment of the Supreme Court shall compel all the political parties to have a serious thought for giving effect to the provisions of the Tenth Schedule in its true earnest," it added.
PMDVY district level prog held
TAMENGLONG, Jan 27 : A Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana  (PMDVY) District Level Advocacy program for Tamenglong district was held at Siknu Inn, Tamenglong Bazar today.
DC Armstrong Pame  and DFO Arun attended the function as dignitaries.
Altogether 120 SHGs' president/ secretary selected for the scheme also attended. Arun RS presented a power point presentation about the objective, processing of Forest Produce, marketing plans etc.