Manipur high court gets third judge

Imphal: Manipur’s additional advocate general and former Supreme Court lawyer Khwairakpam Nobin Singh was sworn in as the third judge of the newly-established Manipur high court on Wednesday.
Nobin’s induction came as a relief for both litigants and lawyers as they have been facing an acute manpower crunch in the high court.
The Manipur high court was set up in March last year. According to the High Court Bar Association of Manipur (HCBAM), over 4,000 cases are pending in the high court.
High court chief justice Laxmikant Mohapatra administered the oath of office and secrecy to Nobin at a function in the court’s auditorium at Mantripukhri in Imphal West. Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, senior state officials and a host of lawyers and judges attended the swearing-in ceremony amid tight security. A resident of Imphal, Nobin Singh is the second Manipuri judge after N Kotishwar Singh in the high court.
Of the seven posts of judges, including that of the chief justice, demanded by Manipur’s lawyers, the Centre has sanctioned five, said HCBAM joint secretary, advocate Ng Jotindra Luwang.
“The appointment of a new judge for Manipur high court will help both lawyers and litigants. We will continue to ask the Centre to sanction two more posts,” Jotindra added. Meanwhile, the Manipur State Legal Services Authority, along with its district units, will organize a National Lok Adalat on December 6 for the entire state in different places.
A statement issued by the family court, Manipur, said the Adalat for Imphal East and Imphal West districts will be jointly held at the Cheirap Court Complex at Uripok in Imphal West.