SHILLONG : The people who proposed the candidature of jailed Independent candidate from Mawhati constituency, Julius Dorphang, a former militant, has filed his nomination on his behalf along with election agents on Saturday at Nongpoh.
The lawyer of Dorphang told The Shillong Times over phone that presence of the legislator under the Representation of People’s Act (RPA) is not necessary.
The president of the Mawhati Constituency Political Committee (MCPC), Anand Mangu stated that the nomination had been filed at around 1:45 pm.
Asked on election campaign of Dorphang, the lawyer did not make any comments as he said that the matter was pending in Court.
The norm is that the affidavit should be sworn before the jail superintendent and anyone other than Dorphang can file the nominations before the Returning Officer as there is no requirement for Dorphang to be personally present before the officer.
The Representation of the People Act (RPA), says that unless convicted anyone can contest the elections. The Supreme Court on July 10, 2013 ordered that a person lodged in jail seized to be a voter and hence cannot contest the elections.
However, the Parliament amended the RP Act with the additional section 62 (4) which gave protection to contesting candidates stating that unless convicted individuals can contest elections.
The amendment was notified on October 9, 2013.
Dorphang, was arrested for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the infamous Marvellene Inn case that rocked the state last year. The supporters of Dorphang contended that he has not been convicted by the Court in the sex scandal, which made him keen to contest the elections.
