Khundrakpam Maniton Singh and 7 Ors v. State of Manipur and Another

S. I tem No. 1 I N THE HI GH COURT OF MANI PUR AT I MPHAL WP(C) No. 168 of 2025 Khundrakpam Maniton Singh & 7 ors. Petitioners Vs. State of Manipur & anr. Respondents BEFORE HON'BLE MR. JUSTI CE AHANTHEM BI MOL SI NGH

27.02.2025 Heard Mr. Ng. Jotindra Luwang, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners; and Mrs. L. Monomala, learned G.A. appearing for the respondents. In view of the limited prayer made by the counsel appearing for the petitioners and as agreed to by both the counsel appearing for the parties, the present writ petition is being disposed of at the motion stage itself. At the outset, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, submitted that for redressing their grievances raised in the present writ petition, the petitioners have already approached the Principal Secretary/Commissioner/Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD), Government of Manipur, by filing a representation dated 03.02.2025 and that the said representation is still pending for consideration and disposal. The learned counsel further submitted that the petitioners will be satisfied for the time being if the present writ petition is disposed of by directing the Secretary(CAF&PD), Government of Manipur, to consider the said representation dated 03.02.2025 submitted by the petitioners on its LAIREN MAYUM INDRAJ EET SINGH Digitally signed by LAIRENMAYU M INDRAJEET SINGH Date: 2025.02.28 +05'30' own merit and in terms of the applicable rules and to dispose of the same by issuing a speaking order within a stipulated period. The learned counsel further submitted that an observation may be made by this Court that while considering and disposing of the said representation, the authorities should not reject the said representation on the ground that the validity period of the wait list/panel as notified on 12.03.2024 had expired. Mrs. L. Monomala, learned G.A. appearing for the respondents, fairly submitted that as the prayer made on behalf of the petitioners is confined to the consideration and disposal of the representation submitted by them, she has no objection in disposing of the present writ petition as prayed for by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners. After hearing the submission advanced by the learned counsel appearing for the parties and on perusal of the record, this Court is of the considered view that interest of justice will be served by issuing the following direction:-

(i) The Secretary(CAF&PD), Government of Manipur, is hereby directed to consider the said representation dated 03.02.2025 submitted by the petitioners on its own merit and strictly in terms of the applicable Acts & Rules and to dispose of the same by issuing appropriate orders;

(ii) It is made clear that the whole process should be completed within a period of 3(three) months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order; and

(iii) It is made clear that the authorities should not reject the said representation on the ground that the validity period of the wait list/panel as notified on 12.03.2024 had expired. With the aforesaid direction, the present writ petition is disposed of. JUDGE Indrajeet