Shri Thang Kho Jam Mate vs The State Of Manipur

[Order of the Court was made by M. Sundar, CJ]

[1] This common order will now dispose of captioned 31(thirty-one) writ petitions.

[2] The following abbreviations/short forms have been used in this order (for the sake of brevity, convenience and clarity):

[3] When the captioned WPs were taken up, Mr. Tungrei Ngakang, learned counsel on record for all writ petitioners in all the 31 (thirty-one) WPs was before this Court. To be noted, as regards the captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs, in 2(two) WPs viz., WP(Crl.) Nos. 51 and 52 of 2026, there are 3(three) writ petitioners. In the remaining 29(twenty-nine) WPs, there is also 1(one) writ petitioner each. This adds up to 35(thirty-five) writ petitioners in all in the captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs.

[4] At the outset, Mr. Tungrei Ngakang, learned counsel, on instructions from the writ petitioners, descoped the prayers in the captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs, submitted that it will suffice if there is a direction to dispose of representations sent by writ petitioners, saying so learned counsel further submitted that the captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs are directly and squarely covered by an earlier common order dated 11.03.2026 made by this Division Bench in the case of Shri. Lalnunmawia Gangte & 3 ors. -versus- State of Manipur & ors. in WP(Crl.) Nos. 4, 5, 6 & 7 of 2026 reported in this High Court (High Court of Manipur) Neutral Citation and the citation is 2026:MNHC:38-DB.

[5] Issue notice.

[6] Mr. S. Chittaranjan, learned AAG for State of Manipur along with Mr. Y. Max, learned State counsel, accepts notice for R-1, R-3, R-4 and R-5 in W.P.(Crl.) Nos. 51 and 52 of 2026 and for R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 in all other captioned WPs. Mr. W. Darakeshwar, learned Sr. PCCG along with Mr. L. Jeson, learned counsel, accepts notice for R-2 in all the captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs.

[7] Afore-referred learned State counsel for State of Manipur as well as Union of India submit in unison in one voice (without any disputation or contestation with learned counsel for writ petitioner) that owing to descoping of prayers by learned counsel for writ petitioner, captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs are directly and squarely covered by common order dated 11.03.2026 made by this Division Bench in WP(Crl.) Nos. 4, 5, 6 & 7 of 2026 (Shri Lalnunmawia Gangte & 3 ors. -versus- State of Manipur & ors.).

[8] There was consensus amongst the afore-referred counsel and State counsel before this Court that captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs can be disposed of by making a similar order as made in afore-referred Shri Lalnunmawia Gangte & 3 ors. -versus- State of Manipur & ors. Owing to this consensus, learned State counsel for respondents agreed to have the main WPs taken up (in the admission Board itself) and have the same disposed of without insisting on filing affidavits-in-opposition. Therefore, all 31(thirty-one) main WPs were taken up and are now being disposed of vide instant order with the consent of all the learned counsel on both sides.

[9] Before proceeding further, this Court deems it appropriate to set out a scanned reproduction of common order dated 11.03.2026 made in Shri Lalnunmawia Gangte & 3 ors. -versus- State of Manipur & ors. reported in 2026:MNHC:38-DB (High Court of Manipur Neutral Citation), we do so and a scanned reproduction of the same is as follows:

[10] As captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs are now being disposed of on the same lines (as done in the case of Shri Lalnunmawia Gangte & 3 ors. -versus- State of Manipur & ors.), this Court deems it appropriate to set out scanned reproduction of said representation-I, said representation-II, said representation-III, said representation-IV and said representation-V. We do so and scanned reproduction of these 5 (five) representations are as follows:

[11] Before writing the operative portion of instant order, this Court deems it appropriate (for the sake of comprehensively capturing facts) that the afore-referred 5 (five) representations have been sent by 40 (forty) signatories in all, said representation – I by 13 signatories, said representation – II by 7 signatories, said representation – III by 18 signatories, said representation – IV and said representation – V by one signatory each but only 35 (thirty five) of them are before this Court vide captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs. This Court, for the sake of convenience, clarity, specificity and ease of reference, deems it appropriate to set out these details by way of a tabulation. We do so infra and the tabulation is as follows:

[12] On disposal of captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs vide instant common order, in normal course, the Vakalatnama of Mr. Tungrei Ngakang and his co-counsel, Mr. Zinranso Shatsang, Ms. Chanreiwon Kashung, Ms. Basei Roja Shahni will also come to an end but in the instant case, learned counsel Mr. Tungrei Ngakang on instructions from 35 (thirty five) writ petitioners submitted that a departure can be made and it will suffice if the proceedings/orders disposing of afore-referred 5 (five) representations to be made by Commissioner (Home), Government of Manipur is served on him under due acknowledgment and the same will be construed as having been duly served on each of the 35 (thirty five) writ petitioners.

[13] Learned AAG, on instructions, submits that as regards said representation-III (dated 04.07.2026), Director General of Police (Prisons & CS), Manipur has been addressed vide a letter dated 06.08.2026 bearing reference No. H-2001/159/2026-HD-HD. Learned State counsel has placed before this Court a copy of this 06.08.2026 communication and scanned reproduction of the same is as follows:

We direct R-4 in all captioned WPs and R-5 also in W.P. (Crl.) Nos. 51 and 52 of 2026 (in whichever case applicable) to furnish all the details sought for to the Commissioner (Home), Government of Manipur forthwith with regard to said representation – I, said representation - II, said representation - III, said representation – IV and said representation – V.

[14] The following order is made:

[15] Before concluding, this Court makes it clear that if writ petitioners or anyone or some of the writ petitioners are either not satisfied or aggrieved by the common speaking orders/proceedings to be made by Commissioner (Home), Manipur in the aforesaid manner, it is open to such writ petitioners to assail the same in a manner known to law and if such a scenario unfurls, the challenge will be considered on its own merits and in accordance with law.

[16] Captioned 31(thirty-one) WPs are disposed of as closed in the aforesaid manner albeit with observations and directions set out supra. There shall be no order as to costs.