Manipur High Court
Thokchom Sujata Devi vs Union Of India And 5 Others on 22 May, 2026
SHAMURAILATPAM Digitally signed by
SHAMURAILATPAM SUSHIL SHARMA
SUSHIL SHARMA Date: 2026.05.22 17:19:51 +05'30'
Sl. Nos. 21-27
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
AT IMPHAL
PIL No. 27 of 2025
Thokchom Sujata Devi
Petitioner
Vs.
Union of India and 5 others
Respondents
With MC(PIL) No. 20 of 2025
With MC(PIL) No. 21 of 2024
With MC(PIL) No. 37 of 2025
With MC(PIL) No. 39 of 2025
With PIL No. 22 of 2024
With PIL No. 9 of 2024
BEFORE
HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. M. SUNDAR
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH
(ORDER)
(Order of the Court was made by Mr. M. Sundar, CJ)
22.05.2026
[1] Read this in conjunction with and in continuation of earlier
proceedings made in the previous listing on 15.06.2026 which reads as follows :
‘15.05.2026
[1] Read this in conjunction with and in
continuation of earlier proceedings made in the
previous listing on 29.04.2026.
[2] In the hearing today, Mr. Khaidem Mani,
learned senior advocate, instructed by Mr. M. Rakesh,
learned counsel on record for petitioner in PIL No.27
of 2025; Mr. Ajoy Pebam, learned counsel on record
for petitioner in PIL No. 22 of 2024; Mr. A.
Priyokumar, learned State Counsel appearing on
behalf of Mr. S. Chittaranjan, learned Additional
Advocate General, Manipur for respondent Nos. 5 and
6 in PIL No. 27 of 2025 and respondent Nos. 3, 4, 5
and 6 in PIL No. 22 of 2024; Mr. Dayali Elangbam,
learned counsel for respondent No.8 in PIL No.22 of
2024; Mr. Romendro Sharma, learned counsel for
respondent Nos. 10 and 11 in PIL No. 22 of 2024 arePage 1 of 11
before us in the physical Court. Mr. M. Chittaranjan,
learned counsel for respondent Nos. 7 & 9 in PIL
No.22 of 2024 is also present in the physical Court and
Mr. Rajesh Ranjan, learned counsel along with Mr.
Dhruv Dewan, learned counsel for respondent Nos. 7
and 9 in PIL No.22 of 2024 and Mr. Boboy
Potsangbam, learned CGSC (Central Government
Standing Counsel) for respondent Nos. 1, 2, 12 and 13
in PIL No. 22 of 2024 are before this Court on the
Video Conferencing (VC) platform.
[3] Adverting to paragraph 5 of earlier proceedings
dated 29.04.2026, Mr. Boboy Potsangbam, learned
CGSC submitted that he has got necessary instructions
and he would now be appearing for Alliance Air
Aviation Limited (respondent No. 12 in PIL No. 22 of
2024). This submission is recorded.
[4] As regards the affidavit to be filed, Mr. Boboy
Potsangbam requests for 1 (one) more week’s time
stating that this may please be treated as peremptory.
A similar request is made by Mr. A. Priyokumar,
learned State Counsel as regards ATR (Action Taken
Report).
[5] Mr. Khaidem Mani, learned senior counsel
appearing on behalf of Mr. M. Rakesh, learned counsel
on record for petitioner in PIL No. 27 of 2025, referred
to paragraph 4 of earlier proceedings dated 29.04.2026
and emphasized the need for early attention. Learned
senior counsel opposed to the request of learned CGSC
and learned State Counsel. Learned senior advocate
submitted that if 1 (one) week time is to be granted it
should be on terms and cost of rupees not less than
thirty thousand should be imposed. Considering the
facts and circumstances of the case and nature of the
matter, we deem it appropriate to accede to the request
of Mr. Boboy Potsangbam, learned CGSC and Mr. A.
Priyokumar, learned State Counsel and grant them 1
(one) week’s time albeit without imposing costs.
[6] List 1 (one) week hence.
[7] List on 22.05.2026.'
[2] In the hearing today, Mr. Khaidem Mani, learned senior advocate,
instructed by Mr. Kh. Samungou, learned counsel on record for petitioner in PIL
No.27 of 2025; Mr. Ajoy Pebam, learned counsel on record for petitioner in PIL
No. 22 of 2024; Mr. N. Khelemba, learned counsel for petitioner in PIL No. 9 of
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2024; Mr. Boboy Potsangbam, learned CGSC (Central Government Standing
Counsel) instructed by Mr. Satish, learned counsel along with learned senior
advocate and learned DSGI (Deputy Solicitor General of India) Mr. Kh. Samarjit
who is on V.C. platform instructed by Mr. N. Nongdamba (physical Court) for
respondent Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 in PIL No. 27 of 2025, for respondent Nos. 1, 2,
12 and 13 in PIL No. 22 of 2024 and for respondent Nos. 1 and 2 in PIL No. 9 of
2024; Mr. Lenin Singh Hijam, learned senior advocate and Advocate General,
Manipur who is on the V.C. platform instructed by Mr. I. Amri, learned State
Counsel (physical court) along with Mr. S. Chittaranjan, learned Additional
Advocate General, Manipur instructed by Mr. A. Priyokumar Sharma, learned
State Counsel for respondent Nos. 5 and 6 in PIL No. 27 of 2025, for respondent
Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 in PIL No. 22 of 2024 and for respondent No. 3 in PIL No. 9 of
2024; Mr. Dayali Elangbam, learned counsel for respondent No.8 in PIL No.22 of
2024; Mr. Romendro Sharma, learned counsel for respondent Nos. 10 and 11 in
PIL No. 22 of 2024 are before this Court. Mr. M. Chittaranjan, learned counsel for
respondent Nos. 7 & 9 in PIL No.22 of 2024 who is physical Court and Mr. Rajesh
Ranjan, learned counsel along with Mr. Dhruv Dewan, learned counsel who are
on the V.C. platform for respondent Nos. 7 and 9 in PIL No.22 of 2024 are also
before this Court.
[3] Adverting to earlier proceedings, Mr. Boboy Potsangbam submitted
that as regards air fares/air routes, Hon’ble Supreme Court is seized of the matter
vide a Article 32 writ petition being WP(C) No. 1124 of 2024. Learned counsel
submits that Hon’ble Kerala High Court has deferred a similar matter in deference
to Hon’ble Supreme Court being seized of the matter and is awaiting orders of
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Hon’ble Supreme Court. Mr. Boboy Potsangbam has placed before us proceedings
of Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 15.05.2026 and scanned reproduction of the
same is as follows :
Page 4 of 11
Page 5 of 11
A copy of the afore referred proceedings of Hon’ble Supreme Court
has been furnished to the learned counsel on record for PIL petitioners.
Page 6 of 11
[4] It is submitted by Mr. Boboy Potsangbam that he will state all this
in an affidavit sworn by a responsible officer together with relevant documents
as annexures to demonstrate that Hon’ble Supreme Court is seized of the matter.
Let Mr. Boboy Potsangbam do the needful in this regard in the next listing.
Besides this, learned counsel adverting to earlier proceedings made in previous
listing further submits that he has filed his response and the same is on Board.
This submission is recorded.
[5] Mr. Kh. Samarjit, learned senior advocate and learned DSGI
(Deputy Solicitor General of India) who is before us on the V.C. (Video
Conferencing) platform submitted that as regards some respondents he is
appearing on behalf of Mr. N. Nongdamba and Mr. Boboy Potsangbam. Learned
DSGI submits that the matter is being examined at the highest level, he would
now be appearing in the matter and if need be the first law officer of India i.e.,
learned Attorney General may also appear but he confirms that he will be
appearing in the matter now.
[6] As regards State, Mr. Lenin Singh Hijam, learned senior advocate
and Advocate General for Manipur who is before us on the V.C. platform submits
that the issue of opening of highways is one which Hon’ble Supreme Court is in
seized of. In support of this submission, proceedings of Hon’ble Supreme Court
dated 17.03.2025 made in SLP (Civil) Diary No(s). 19206 of 2023 has been placed
before us and scanned reproduction of the same is as follows :
Page 7 of 11
Page 8 of 11
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[7] Learned Advocate General, adverting to the afore referred
17.03.2025 proceeding of Hon’ble Supreme Court and more particularly
paragraph 2 thereat, submits that report No. 28 deals with opening of highways.
Page 10 of 11
Learned Advocate General further submits that he will place the report (report
No. 28) in a sealed envelope for the perusal of this Court under a suitable
affidavit. This submission is recorded. As regards State, Additional Advocate
General Mr. S. Chittaranjan along with Mr. A. Priyokumar Sharma, learned State
Counsel and Mr. I. Amri, learned State Counsel are before the physical Court and
it is submitted that they would all represent State as a team. Learned State
Counsel shall bring on record the affidavit qua sealed envelope as submitted by
learned Advocate General. Other than the sealed envelope and affidavit under
which it is to be filed, learned counsel for the PIL petitioner shall be favoured
with advance copies of affidavit/s and annexures which are to be filed.
[8] List under the same cause list caption ‘HEARING PIL’ on
10.06.2026.
JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE
Sushil
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