NPF tussle: Court gives Rio’s group 15 days to produce original constitution

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 11 (EMN): The Gauhati High Court Kohima today directed the Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio’s side to produce the party’s “genuine constitution” within 15 days.
In an interlocutory appeal (IA) filed in connection with the first appeal against the order dated 24/8/17 passed by civil judge senior division Kohima in Civil Misc. Case No.13/2017 arising out of Civil Suit No.10/2017, the counsel for the petitioner (Dr. Shürhozelie’s side) stated to have strongly urged for an interim order pending the appeal to restrain Rio’s party from using the flag, symbol, letterhead of the party and also from holding the general convention of NPF scheduled on September 20 next.
The counsel for the opposite party is said to have objected against granting of such interim injunction on the ground that the whole case of the petitioner is based on the constitution of the party produced ‘by them’ which he alleged, is not the genuine constitution of the party. According to the respondent’s counsel, ‘the genuine constitution is the one submitted to the Election Commission’.
Observing that the objection goes to the root of the dispute between the two parties claiming the NPF and as the dispute has to be adjudicated mainly on the basis of the constitution of the party, the court viewed that the opposite party should file their counter affidavit along with a copy of the constitution, which, according to them is the ‘genuine one’ so that the matter may be adjudicated properly.
Towards this, the court has granted 15 days to the opposite party to file their affidavit with the documents relied upon them. Meanwhile, the court directed that status quo be maintained by both parties as on today.
“The court is confident that since the parties involved in this case are among the tallest political leaders in the state, are aware of the expectation of the people of the state and therefore, shall abide by the constitution of the party and restrain their respective supporters from disturbing the peace and tranquillity of the state,” it stated.