LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, April 19: Jharkhand Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh has received the letter written by the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking ‘authentication’ of the documents related to the granting of the mining lease to the chief minister
A top official, requesting anonymity. said that the said letter was received yesterday by the Chief Secretary.
The matter pertains to granting of approval for stone quarrying lease in Hemant Soren’s name on a government land on the outskirts of the state capital.The approval was cleared by the mines and environment departments headed by Soren himself.
“The ECI started the proceedings after the Jharkhand governor referred the matter for the election body’s legal opinion in March last week. Only the ECI can decide on the issue related to the office of profit for elected representatives,” said the official.
Notably, the matter was first raised by former chief minister Raghubar Das on February 10, demanding Soren’s resignation. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation led by Das and legislature party leader Babulal Marandi also met governor Ramesh Bais on February 11. The delegation sought disqualification and removal of Soren as chief minister claiming that he violated constitutional provision under Section 9A of The Representation of the People Act, 1951.
“Section 9A is related to disqualification for government contracts, etc wherein a person shall be disqualified if, and for so long as, there subsists a contract entered into by him in the course of his trade or business with the appropriate government for the supply of goods to, or for the execution of any works undertaken, by that government,” the BJP argued in its memorandum to the governor.
The memorandum also sought action against Soren for ‘misusing’ his office for personal gains by violating the code of conduct meant for the office of chief minister and ministers. It also claimed that Soren committed a criminal offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act by getting a mine lease while he was the CM and headed the departments concerned.
Acting on the memorandum, the governor had referred the matter to the ECI, which has now sought information from the state government.
