Oinam Premkumar Singh & 4 Ors vs Ningthoujam Geoffrey
2026 Latest Caselaw 2 Mani

Manipur High Court

Oinam Premkumar Singh & 4 Ors vs Ningthoujam Geoffrey on 13 January, 2026

Author: Ahanthem Bimol Singh

Bench: Ahanthem Bimol Singh

                                                              1
             Digitally signed by
JOHN      JOHN TELEN KOM
TELEN KOM Date: 2026.01.14
          12:35:50 +05'30'
                                                                                           Sl. No. 1

                                          IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
                                                    AT IMPHAL

                                               Cont.Cas(C)No.164 of 2025

                         Oinam Premkumar Singh & 4 Ors.
                                                                                         Petitioners
                                                        Vs.
                         Ningthoujam Geoffrey
                                                                                        Respondent

BEFORE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. M. SUNDAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH

(ORDER)

(Order of the Court was made by M. Sundar, CJ)

13.01.2026.

[1] This order will now dispose of the captioned contempt case.

[2] This order has to be read in continuation of and in conjunction

with earlier proceedings/orders made by this Court in the listing on

02.12.2025 which reads as follow:

'02.12.2025 [1] Captioned contempt petition has been filed complaining of non- compliance qua 'judgment and order dated 02.12.2024 in W.A. No. 78 of 2023' ('said order' for the sake of convenience and clarity).

[2] Mr. Julius Riamei, learned counsel for contempt petitioners, submits that said order was made by predecessor Division Bench in an intra-court appeal assailing judgment and order dated 25.02.2022 in W.P. (C) No. 1057 of 2018 vide which a Hon'ble Single Judge Bench allowed the writ petition directing absorption of 11(eleven) employees {5 (five) Teaching Staff and 6 (six) Non-Teaching Staff} in Thambal Marik College, Oinam, Bishnupur District, Manipur.

[3] Learned counsel for contempt petitioner, adverting to said order in the case file, submits that the Hon'ble Division Bench set aside the order made in the writ petition but directed the State to consider the grievances of writ petitioners within 4 (four) weeks time frame on a representation being sent by writ petitioners. To be noted, reference to 'writ petitioners' is reference to 'contempt petitioners' based on their rank before the Hon'ble Single Judge.

[4] Post said order, writ petitioners have sent a 'representation dated 20.12.2024' ('said representation' for the sake of convenience) articulating their grievances. Learned counsel for writ petitioners submits that said representation has been received by State on the same day, i.e., 20.12.2024 but the State has neither responded nor disposed of the representation until this day.

[5] In the instant case, Mr. Phungyo Zingkhai, learned State counsel, who is present in Court submitted that he has instructions from the sole respondent in the contempt petition. Though this is a contempt petition, considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the nature of the matter, we made an exception, permitted learned State counsel to accept notice for respondent dispensing with personal appearance of respondent but with a caveat that this will not serve as a precedent in all contempt cases. To be noted, Mr. Athouba Khaidem, learned senior advocate appears on behalf of learned State counsel. Mr. Athouba Khaidem, learned senior advocate submits that the afore-referred said representation would be disposed of by respondent (State) on its own merits and in accordance with law as expeditiously as the business of sole respondent would permit but in any event within a fortnight from today, i.e., on or before 16.12.2025. Learned senior advocate on instructions from the instructing counsel, Mr. Phungyo Zingkhai, has also placed before us a communication dated 01.12.2025 from the State bearing Reference No. F/No.CCs-3015/10/2025-HTE-DHTE and a scanned reproduction of the same is as follows:

[6] For ease of reference, for the sake of specificity and abundant clarity, we deem it appropriate to scan and reproduce said representation as placed before us and a scanned reproduction of the same is as follows:

[7] This Court makes it clear that disposal of said representation on its own merits and in accordance with law shall be communicated to each of the contempt petitioners (under due acknowledgment) within one week from the date of disposal.

[8] Recording the stated position of learned State counsel, captioned contempt petition is closed but with a directive to the Registry to list the same under the cause list caption 'FOR REPORTING COMPLIANCE' on 13.01.2026.

[9] Captioned contempt petition is disposed of as closed in the aforesaid manner. There shall be no order as to costs.'

[3] Today, Mr. Julius Riamei, learned counsel for contempt

petitioners and Mr. Phungyo Zingkhei, learned State counsel for

respondent led by Mr. Athouba Khaidem, learned senior advocate are

before this Court.

[4] Adverting to afore-referred earlier proceedings dated

02.12.2025, learned senior counsel for State submits that the

representation has since been duly disposed of vide proceedings dated

09.12.2025 bearing reference No. CCs-401/1/2025-HTE-DHTE. Copy of

this 09.12.2025 proceedings has been placed before us and learned State

Counsel further submits that the contempt petitioners have been favoured

with copies of the same. Mr. D. Julius Riamei, learned counsel for contempt

petitioners confirms receipt of the proceedings.

[5] This Court deems it appropriate to scan and reproduce the

proceedings dated 09.12.2025 for the sake of convenience and clarity. A

scanned reproduction of the same is as follows:

[6] The narrative thus far makes it clear that the order dated

02.12.2024 made by predecessor Division Bench in WA No.78 of 2023

more particularly sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph 9 thereat has been duly

complied with.

[7] Recording compliance, we give a closure to the captioned

contempt case but though obvious we deem it appropriate to make it clear

that all the rights and contentions of the contempt petitioners will remain

preserved for assailing the aforesaid 09.12.2025 proceedings, if so advised

and if so desired. If such a course unfurls, the challenge shall be examined

on its own merits and in accordance with law untrammeled by closure of

instant contempt petition.

[8] Captioned contempt petition is disposed of as closed in the

aforesaid manner. There shall be no order as to costs.

                      JUDGE                            CHIEF JUSTICE


John Kom