HC stays order to shift 7 MR to Taphou

Imphal, May 20: In a significant ruling a single bench of the Gauhati High Court today stayed the Government's order to shift the 7 MR from Khabeisoi to Taphou. The interim verdict was issued by Justice B Lamare on a writ petition filed by 52 personnel of the battalion challenging the order to shift the 7 MR unit from Khabeisoi to Taphou post. The order was issued by the State Home Department on May 9. The decision to shift the 7 MR Bn to Taphou was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on April 25. Taphou is in Senapati district. The Khabeisoi complex was then to be handed over to the 3 IRB as its Bn headquarters. It is also learnt that a meeting held in the office of the DGP on August 8 last year decided that 7 MR was to be kept purely fur guard/escort duties of VIP/Officers in Imphal and the question of shifting it to Taphou was never raised. Records show that by orders dated July 13, 2001 the 3rd IRB was established for protection of NH-39 with its headquarters at Taphou in Senapati district and creation of 1041 posts was considered by the State Government especially for protection of the NH-39 from Mao Gate to Imphal. According to these facts the matter needs proper hearing, the court ruled. While staying the Government's order the Court also issued rule to the respondents making it returnable within four weeks time. The stay order will be in effect until the returnable date. Advocate Kh Binoykumar Singh appeared in favor of the petitioners.