The House assembled at 10.00 am of Friday, the 9th December, 2005 in the Assembly Hall with the Hon’ble Speaker Protem, Dr. M. Nara Singh in the Chair.

 MEMBERS  PRESENT: 

            Hon’ble Chief Minister, 10 Cabinet Ministers, Chairman (Hill Areas Committee), 1 Minister of State and 45 Elected Members. 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SECRETARY: 

            The Secretary, Manipur Legislative Assembly announced the order by the Governor of Manipur dated 7-12-2005 appointing Dr. M. Nara Singh, MLA as Speaker Protem. 

ELECTION OF SPEAKER: 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA raised a point of order under Rule 336 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Manipur Legislative Assembly and said that the election process of the new Speaker was abnormal. He expressed apprehension that such practices would create a bad parliamentary tradition and culture and described it as unprecedented. 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA said that election of the Speaker uncontested would be a consensus. He also pointed out the lack of democratic courtesy or nicety. 

            Shri Th. Devendra Singh, Minister, Law & Legislative Affairs made a clarification regarding the election of the Speaker. He admitted to the departure from practice and convention and said that it was due to certain circumstances and exigency of the situation. 

            Dr. M. Nara Singh, Speaker Protem announced that he had received five nomination papers for the post of the Speaker, all in favour of Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh. He announced that Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh was elected unopposed to the post of Speaker. 

            The newly elected Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Sheikh was escorted to the Chair by the Leader of the House, Shri O. Ibobi Singh and the Leader of the Opposition, Shri R.K. Dorendra Singh. 

            Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister, Shri R.K. Dorendra Singh, Shri O. Joy Singh and Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLAs participated in the felicitation of Dr. Maniruddin Shaikh on his election as the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.   

            (Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh adjourned the House at 10.58 a.m. till 11.00 a.m. of the day).

            (The session reconvened at 11.00 a.m. with the Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh in the Chair). 

QUESTIONS:  

            (a)       Hon’ble Chief Minister gave a reply to Starred Question No. 857  asked  by
                        Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA regarding the mode of  payment of ex-gratia.           

            (b)       Hon’ble Minister (Art & Culture) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 858  asked
                        by Shri Erabot Yumkham, MLA regarding the  protection/improvement  of Kangla
                        Fort. Chief Minister, Shri O.  Ibobi Singh supplemented to it. 

            (c)       Hon’ble Minister (Education) gave a reply to Starred Question No.  859 asked  by
                        Shri C. Doungel, MLA regarding the posting of  regular D.I. of schools. 

           (d)       Hon’ble Minister (Education)  gave a reply to Starred Question No. 856 asked  by
                       Dr.  Nimaichand  Luwang, MLA  regarding  the  part   time  lecturers  of the Higher
                        Secondary Schools.           

            (e)         Hon’ble Minister (M.I) made a reply to Starred Question No. 860 asked  by
                          Shri E. Biramani Singh, MLA regarding the M.I/ R.L.I  programmes  taken up
                          during 2002-03 to 2003-04. 

            (f)          Hon’ble  Chief  Minister  gave  a  reply  to  Starred  Question No. 862   asked  by
                          Shri  L.  Ibomcha   Singh,  MLA   regarding   the   upper   age    limit   for
                           recruitment.           

            (g)          Hon’ble  Chief  Minister  gave  a  reply  to  Starred  Question  No. 863 asked  by
                           Shri S. Gopal Singh, MLA regarding the status of  Commission’s Report  against
                           circunstances leading to the death of  K. Bimol Singh. 

            (h)          Hon’ble  Chief  Minister    gave  a  reply  to Starred Question No. 864 asked    by
                           Shri Th. Tomba Singh, MLA regarding the non-releasing of  appointment orders. 

            Answers to Starred Ouestion Nos. 861 & 865, Short Notice Question No. 6 and Unstarred Question Nos. 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 & 61 were laid on the Table of the House.

ZERO HOUR: 

            During Zero Hour, Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA drew the attention of the Chief Minister to the agitation of Fast-unto-death by the Adhoc employees and sit-in-protest by the D.P.C sucessful Hindi  graduate teachers, Pensioners and by those demanding the revival of Die-in-Harness Scheme. 

             Shri N. Sovakiran Singh, MLA drew the attention of the concerned Minister to the issue of lifting of ban on fresh appointment. 

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE AND CONTEMPT OF THE HOUSE: 

             Shri P.S. Henry Paotei, MLA drew the attention of the Hon’ble Speaker regarding a notice of the Breach of Privilege and Contempt of the House submitted earlier against an Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department.

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang expressed the view that appropriate action should be taken against the erring official. 

            The Hon’ble Speaker referred the matter to the Privilege Committee for examination. 

            Shri Th. Devendra Singh, Minister (Works) assured the House that he would examine the matter and give a statement in the House. 

PRESENTATION OF BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT: 

            Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister presented the Fourteenth Report of the Business Advisory Committee, 2005 and also moved: 

            “That this House agrees to the allocation of time proposed by the Committee”.

The House agreed.

OBITUARY REFERENCE:  

            The Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly moved a resolution on obituary reference on the demise of Shri K.R. Narayanan, Ex-President of India, Shri M.K. Priyobarta, Ex-Chief Minister of Manipur, Md. Mahamuddin Shah, Ex- MLA, Shri R. Vio, Ex- MLA, Shri Khaidem Pishak, Ex- MLA and Shri Kh. Lakshman, Ex- MLA of Manipur Legislative Assembly.  

            Shri R.K. Dorendra Singh, Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, Shri B..D. Behring, Shri S. Ibohal Singh, Shri Ningthoujam Biren, Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, Md. Abdul Salam, Shri C. Doungel, Dr. Sapam Budhichandra Singh, Shri R.K. Thekho, MLAs and Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister participated in the Obituary Reference. 

            The following resolution was adopted by the House:-           

                        “That,   this   House   expresses   its   deep  sense  of  grief  and  sorrow  at  the  
                          demise of Shri K.R. Narayanan, Ex-President of India, Shri   M.K. Priyobarta
                         Ex-Chief    Minister   of    Manipur,    Md.   Mahamuddin   Shah,     Ex- MLA,  
                         Shri   R.  Vio,    Ex- MLA,   Shri    Khaidem    Pishak,     Ex- MLA         and 
                         Shri Kh. Lakshman, Ex- MLA of Manipur  Legislative Assembly.

                        And, that the Members of this House observe 2 (two) minutes’                              silence  by standing as a mark of respect to the departed souls.”

            The House observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls. 

            The Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh thanked the Members of the House for electing him unopposed and sought co-operation from one and all. 

            Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh adjourned the House at 1.55 p.m. till 11.00 a.m. of Tuesday, the 13th December, 2005.