WA/18/2020 of JIM GOLDEN THINGUJAM Vs SUKHAM PREMJIT SINGH AND 5 ORS on 17 November 2025

ORDER

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

18.11.2025

This common order will now govern the captioned 4 (four) main ‘Writ Appeals’ (‘WAs’ for the sake of brevity) and the captioned 6 (six) ‘Miscellaneous Cases’ (‘MCs’ for the sake of brevity) thereat.

Captioned main WAs are intra-court appeals and the same are directed against a ‘judgment and order dated 28.02.2020 made by a Hon’ble Single Bench in WP(C) No. 1210 of 2018’ (‘impugned order’ for the sake of convenience and clarity).

Afore-referred WP(C) No. 1210 of 2018 was filed by 2(two) individuals, a Advocate and a RTI querist (to be noted, ‘RTI’ denotes ‘Right to Information’) with a prayer to declare the promotion of one Shri Jim SHAMURAILATPAM SUSHIL SHARMA Digitally signed by SHAMURAILATPAM SUSHIL SHARMA Date: 2025.11.19 15:38:24 +05'30'

2 | P a g e

Golden Thingujam to the post of Joint Director, SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training, Government of Manipur). Interestingly, the prayer was one for quo warranto but in the light of the consensus that has been arrived at today and the consent order we propose to make, it may not be necessary to delve more on that or dilate in detail qua on facts. Suffice to write that the afore-referred writ petition was allowed by a Single Bench inter alia declaring the promotion of Shri Jim Golden Thingujam as Joint Director, SCERT, Government of Manipur to be bad and also directing removal of Shri Jim Golden Thingujam from the post of Joint Director, SCERT, Government of Manipur.

Aggrieved, captioned intra-court appeals i.e., WAs have been filed including a State appeal viz., WA No. 19 of 2020.

Post impugned order, on 31.12.2023, Shri Jim Golden Thingujam superannuated and retired as Joint Director, SCERT, Government of Manipur. It is in this context that consensus has been arrived at qua all the counsel and senior counsel before us. To be noted, Mr. M. Hemchandra, learned senior counsel instructed by Mr. Juno Rahman, learned counsel on record for appellants in WA No. 18 of 2020, WA No. 10 of 2021 and WA No. 74 of 2021; Mr. Kh. Tarunkumar, learned senior counsel instructed by Mr. S. Johnson, learned counsel on record for R1 in WA No. 10 of 2021, WA No. 19 of 2020 and WA No. 74 of 2021; Mr. BP Sahu, learned senior counsel instructed by Mr. Abhishek P. Sahu, learned counsel on record for R2 and R3 and Mr. M. Rarry, learned senior counsel instructed by Ms. M. Nikita, learned counsel on record for the State appellant in WA No. 19 of 2020 are 3 | P a g e

before this Court. Mr. Lungmi Ragui, learned counsel for MPSC (Manipur Public Service Commission) is present.

The consensus is to the effect that Shri Jim Golden Thingujam would now get all retirement benefits treating him as one who retired as Joint Director, SCERT, Government of Manipur on 31.12.2023 but leaving open all questions that arise in the captioned WAs for being legally thrashed out in another matter where it becomes imperative to return a verdict. To be noted, in the earlier proceedings made in the listing on 29.10.2025, it was recorded that the scope of quo warranto may have to be gone into and for the purpose of specificity this Court clarifies that this issue is also left open.

This Court places on record its appreciation to all the litigants, their counsel on record and senior counsel leading them for the fair stand and consensus for giving a closure to this long drawn matter.

Captioned 4 (four) Writ Appeals and 6 (six) MCs thereat are disposed of as closed recording the stated position of all the parties albeit with the aforementioned observation and directive that Shri Jim Golden Thingujam would be entitled to retirement benefits treating him as having retired as Joint Director of SCERT, Government of Manipur on 31.12.2023.

There shall be no order as to costs.

JUDGE

CHIEF JUSTICE Sushil