Manipur High Court declares election of Minister Henry null and void, Irabot declared elected

Election of a member of the Manipur legislative Assembly was declared null and void on the charge of furnishing false information in the affidavit, in another landmark judgment of the High Court of Manipur pronounced on Thursday. The court declared the 2017 election of Okram Henry null and void and declared BJP candidate Yumkham Irabot, who secured second place in the election as elected member of 15-Wangkhei Assembly Constituency.

The single bench of Justice MV Muralidaran was hearing an election petition filed challenging the election of O Henry in the 2017 state assembly election. 

Henry contested the election on the Congress ticket. However, he joined the BJP after resigning as a member of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly and became a cabinet minister in the N Biren-led BJP’s coalition government. However, the necessary by-election to fill the seat vacated by Henry was held up till date as the election petition filed by Y Irabot was pending. At the same time, Henry is no longer a minister as the six months’ period in which a non-elected person can be a minister had expired on March 24 last.

The judgment reserved since March 17 last after the final hearing was pronounced today.

Y Irabot had filed the election petition under section 100(1)(d)(i) and (iv) of the Representation of People Act, 1951, alleging that the 2017 election in respect of Wangkhei Assembly constituency is null and void. 

After the judgment, Y Irabot today met with Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand and handed over a copy of the judgment for necessary action to take him as MLA of the current Assembly.

Today’s judgment was the second time in the political history of the state that declared null and void the election of members of the state Assembly, that too in the current 11th legislative Assembly.

In November 2020, the same court had declared election of Y Surchandra who won in the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly 2017 from Kakching assembly constituency on Congress ticket null and void. 

The judgment was also passed by Justice M V Muralidharan of the Manipur High Court.

Following the judgment, M Rameshwar of BJP who secured second position was declared as elected and he is currently MLA of the ruling BJP.

Also read: After CPI, Manipur Congress demands removal of O Henry as minister

NNN