VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, June 16: The Jharkhand High Court has refused the request of the Jharkhand government to defer the hearing of the PILs against Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The Advocate General of Jharkhand on Wednesday filed a petition to seek an adjournment.
The two PILs- 4290/2021 related to shell companies and 727/2022 related to CM availing mining lease-are scheduled to be heard by the High court on June 17.
The High Court rejected the contention and said that it would list both the PILs for hearing on June 17. It said that it would take a decision during the hearing whether to continue the hearing or defer it as requested by the state of Jharkhand. The High Court said that the state should be prepared for hearing on June 17.
As per the schedule, the court is supposed to hear arguments on the merit of the PILs which will decide whether or not the investigation should be handed over to the CBI.
On Wednesday, the Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan informed the court that he and the senior Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal have turned Covid positive hence it will be difficult for them to attend the hearing. In the petition, the Advocate General also said that the state has filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court against the order of the division bench of Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad of Jharkhand High Court. In the order, the division bench said that both PILs are maintainable and further listed both PILs for hearing the merit.
The Advocate General said that the listing and hearing SLP before a vacation court of the Supreme Court may be a time taking process, and the High Court should defer the hearing.
