Supreme Court stays injunction on Sumi Hoho president

Published on May 5, 2025

DIMAPUR — The Supreme Court has stayed the March 27 order of the Gauhati High Court (Kohima Bench) that had reinstated a temporary injunction against Vihuto Assumi, restraining him from acting as the president of Sumi Hoho.
With this stay in effect, Assumi has been allowed to continue as president on a provisional basis until the next date of hearing, scheduled for July 28.
The case arises from a civil suit filed by a group of petitioners challenging Assumi’s appointment. The petitioners allege that he was under the mandatory minimum age of 50 at the time of the election, thus violating Article 7.10 of the Sumi Hoho Constitution.
Earlier, a trial court in Dimapur had granted a temporary injunction on Assumi’s presidency, citing a prima facie case made by the petitioners. However, this order was vacated by the Principal District Judge, Dimapur, who concluded that the petitioners had not demonstrated sufficient grounds for intervention.
The petitioners subsequently appealed to the Gauhati High Court, which reversed the lower court’s decision and reinstated the injunction on March 27.
However, during the Supreme Court’s proceedings on May 1, a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh heard arguments from both sides. The court issued notice to the respondents and stayed the High Court’s order, effectively allowing Assumi to function as president of the Sumi Hoho in the interim.