VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, July 14: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday deferred the hearing of the Angara stone mining lease case of Chief Minister Hemant Soren till August 5. The hearing of the matter was scheduled today but the same could not take place as the BJP which is the petitioner of this case sought two weeks of time. Hemant Soren is facing the office of the profit inquiry by the ECI in the Angara stone mining lease case.
Hemant Soren was represented by S.K Mendiratta. “Hearing was scheduled for 3 PM today. Around 2.30 PM, the opposite party sought two weeks of time due to some unavoidable reasons. The ECI expressed unhappiness over the BJP seeking adjournment at the last moment. Ultimately, the ECI fixed August 5 as the next date of hearing,” said Mendiratta.
Referring to section 9A of the People’s Representation Act 1951 the BJP demanded termination of his membership in the assembly on the ground of holding a contract with the government.
The BJP accused Hemant Soren of acquiring a stone mining lease in his name while he is the chief minister of the state besides the minister of the mining and forest and environment department. The BJP took the matter to Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais to seek his disqualification from the assembly on the ground of corrupt practice. Exercising his power under section 192 (2) of the Constitution of India, the Governor referred this matter to the ECI.
The ECI sent him a notice to explain why not his membership in the Jharkhand assembly should be terminated for misusing his office for pecuniary gains. Under the act, a government servant can’t undertake business in his name.
The Chief Minister landed in legal trouble after the BJP raised the issue of him having obtained a stone mining lease at Angara. Hemant Soren also holds the portfolio of the mining department and the BJP claims that this is tantamount to the office of profit and he is liable to be disqualified.
A PIL was filed by Shiv Shankar Sharma and the BJP approached the Governor for action against him. The ECI had directed the Jharkhand chief secretary Sukhdeo Singh to submit all documents related to the mining lease.
The then Deputy Commissioner cum District Magistrate, Ranchi Chhavi Ranjan passed an order granting a Letter of Intent for grant of fresh mining lease of stone minor mineral in the name of single applicant Hemant Soren vide order dated 15.06.2021. It is alleged that it was done by overlooking the mandatory requirement of Rule 69 of Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004 wherein he was under statutory obligation to assess for damage and compensation committed by the earlier mining lessee who was also Hemant Soren.
Notably, Basant Soren who is Dumka MLA as well as the younger brother of the CM is also facing a similar inquiry. While the hearing of his case was scheduled on July 15 when he sought additional time from the ECI. The hearing of his case is scheduled on August 4.
