RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Nov 11: Beleaguered Chief Minister Hemant Soren, fighting a battle for survival after having faced a probe by the Enforcement Directorate in the illegal mining case, got two bills passed from the Jharkhand Assembly on Friday during the special session by voice vote.
The bills are ‘The Jharkhand Reservation in Vacancies in Posts and Services (Amendment) Bill, 2022’ and ‘Jharkhand Bill, 2022 to extend the definition of local persons and the consequent socio-cultural and other benefits to such local persons’.
The path was paved for 77 percent reservation in Jharkhand as the Jharkhand assembly passed The Jharkhand Reservation in Vacancies in Posts and Services (Amendment) Bill, 2022’.
According to the provisions of the bill, there will be 28 percent reservation for scheduled tribes (ST) while percentage of reservation for scheduled caste (SC) will be 12. Reservation percentage for backward class under scheduled I will be 15 while the same for backward class under scheduled II will be 12. Economically weaker section of general category will get 10 percent reservation.
‘The Jharkhand Bill, 2022 to extend the definition of local persons and the consequent socio-cultural and other benefits to such local persons’ identifies locals on the basis of survey record published in 1932 or before this. Landless locals and locals having no paper of Khatiyan of 1932 or Khatiyan prior to this date will be identified with the help of Gram Sabha.
However, the provisions of the bills will be enacted after they are included in the Ninth Schedule of the constitution of Indian. This step of throwing the ball in the Centre’s court was taken after the Jharkhand Government knew it fully well that both the laws will not survive the legal scrutiny under the Constitution if they are not placed in the Ninth Schedule. It is another matter that the laws placed in the Ninth Schedule are also not sacrosanct if they violate the Constitutional provisions.
Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren termed the development as historic and said that with this development on November 11 added an extra feather in its cap as this is the same day when the CNT Act was passed in 1908 and proposal for Sarna religion code in Census form was passed in 2021.
Taking credit of this getting the historic bills passed chief minister Soren said: “Shibu Soren has provided Jharkhand state while his son has provided 1932 Khatiyan based identity and restored 27 percent reservation to OBC.”
“Ramchandra Keh Gaye Siya Se Aisa Kalyug Aayega, Hans Chunge Dana Tinka Kauwa Moti Khayega,” he quoted with the help of his party colleagues before saying that with the two bills getting passed from the assembly countdown of the BJP and feudal mentality has been started and the process of strengthening of tribals, downtrodden and backward has begun.
During his speech he said that BJP is not a well wisher of the tribals and after ruining Madhu Koda and Arjun Munda it is targeting Babulal Marandi, who is fighting his last battle. He said that now the situation has come that the tribal people will not allow the BJP to enter their villages.
Chief minister Soren said his party will give befitting reply to all conspiracies being hatched against him and despite being in jail he will be able to root out the BJP from Jharkhand.
Earlier, a section of opposition party legislators pointed out loopholes in the bill and suggested to implement the same with a notification instead of waiting for its inclusion in the Ninth Schedules of the constitution but chief minister Soren did not accept the same saying Karnataka, which is a BJP ruled state has also followed the same way which he has planned. He said the step is in the interest of all.
