Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Disqualified: After two days of political turmoil, finally, Governor Ramesh Bais gave his decision. In the office of profit case, Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MLA Hemant Soren (JMM) from Barhait assembly seat announced the cancellation of the membership of the assembly. The information will be given to the Central Election Commission.
Hemant Soren is not debarred
According to the rules, the Central Election Commission will issue a notification on the basis of the decision of the Governor and send it to the Chief Electoral Officer, while a copy of it will be sent to the Speaker of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. After the notification is issued, Chief Minister Hemant Soren will no longer be an MLA. However, the great relief for Hemant Soren is that he has not been debarred.
What happened so far in the Office of Profit case?
On January 20, 2022, RTI activist Sunil Mahto gave a complaint letter to the Governor on Chief Minister Hemant Soren regarding taking mining lease in his name by misusing the post.
On 10 February 2022, former Chief Minister Raghuvar Das demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the office of profit case.
Former Chief Minister Raghuvar Das, Babulal Marandi had complained to the Governor on 11 February 2022 about taking a 0.88 acre stone mine in Anagada in his name.
BJP members led by
BJP state president Deepak Prakash had submitted a memorandum to the governor for action in Chief Minister Hemant Soren's office of profit.
The Governor along with the complaint letter had sought the opinion of the Central Election Commission under Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
On April 8, 2022, the Election Commission had sought papers from the Chief Secretary for certification of mining lease allotment.
On 27 April 2022, the Chief Secretary sent a 600-page reply to the Election Commission in the mining lease allocation case.
The Election Commission had sent a notice to Chief Minister Hemant Soren in this matter on May 2, 2022 and sought a reply to the notice by May 10.
On May 10, Hemant Soren sought 10 days' time to reply to the Election Commission, saying that the mother was ill.
Accepting the request, the Election Commission gave time to respond by 20 May 2022.
Hemant Soren again sent his reply on 20 May 2022 to the Election Commission through a special envoy.
On 31 May 2022, the Election Commission sought a reply from Hemant Soren himself or through his lawyers in this matter.
When the CM demanded to extend the date again, the letter was also sent to the State Election Commission by the commission setting the last date of 28 June.
In the hearing held on June 28, the
BJP's lawyers had insisted on canceling the membership of the Chief Minister under Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act. It was said that this is not a matter of office of profit. The Election Commission has given July 14 time for the next hearing.
On July 14, Hemant Soren's lawyers presented their side. The next date of hearing has been fixed for August 5.
The Election Commission fixed August 5 as the date of hearing.
The date was extended to August 8 on the request of Hemant Soren's lawyers.
On August 8,
BJP's lawyers presented their side, Hemant's lawyers sought additional time to present a detailed case. The Election Commission gave the date of August 12.
The hearing of Hemant Soren's case was completed on 12 August. The Election Commission directed both the parties to send the written arguments by August 18.
A written reply was given to the Election Commission by the advocates of Hemant Soren on 18 August. After the completion of the hearing process, the commission reserved the order.
On August 25, at 10:30 in the day, the commission sent its opinion to the governor.