Imphal: In a rare judgment, the Supreme Court in an interim order on Wednesday announced the removal of minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh from the cabinet ministerial berth of the BJP-led government in Manipur.
Shyamkumar, who is currently the forest minister in N Biren Singh-led coalition government, will not be allowed to enter the Assembly till further orders, as per the SC judgment based on his disqualification case.
“Given the extraordinary facts in the present case, we are constrained to use our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India. Respondent No 3 (Th Shyamkumar) is restrained from entering the legislative assembly till further orders of the court. Needless to add, he will cease to be a minister of the cabinet immediately,” said the SC order.
With this latest development, Shyamkumar will not be able to practise his franchise rights for the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections, scheduled to be held on March 26.
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The top court’s judgment was in response to a miscellaneous application filed by Congress MLA Keisham Meghachandra Singh and Fajur Rahim to plea Shyamkumar’s disqualification under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India after his unceremonious exit from the party.
On January 21, hearing of the long-pending case of Shyamkumar took place after the Supreme Court, in a ruling, directed the Speaker’s Tribunal to take up the matter within four weeks.
In 2017 assembly elections, minister Shyamkumar was elected on a Congress ticket from Andro constituency, however, he later switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
