India News | Illegal Appointments in J''khand Assembly Fit Case to Be Handed over to CBI: HC

Ranchi, Sep 23 (PTI) The Jharkhand High Court on Monday observed that the issue of alleged illegal appointments in Jharkhand Assembly should be referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The court's observation came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the purported illegal appointments in the Assembly.

Also Read | Ayushman Bharat Marks 6 Years of Launch: Lesser-Known Facts About Universal Healthcare Scheme Launched During PM Narendra Modi's Second Tenure.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sunita Narayan Prasad and Justice AK Rai was examining the PIL filed by Shiv Shankar Sharma, who claimed that appointments had been made through corrupt and backdoor methods.

A previous committee, led by retired Jharkhand High Court Justice Vikramaditya Prasad, identified irregularities in the appointment process, followed by another report from a commission headed by retired Justice SJ Mukhopadhyay.

Also Read | Tirupati Laddu Controversy: Lucknow's Mankameshwar Temple Bans 'Prasad' From Market for Offerings Amidst Row Over 'Adulteration" in Ghee Used in Venkateshwara Swamy Temple.

Advocate Rajeev Kumar, representing the petitioner, argued that the reports from the two judicial commissions clearly indicated gross irregularities.

In 2018, based on Justice Mukhopadhyay's report, the then governor directed the Assembly Speaker to take appropriate action; however, no action was taken until 2021, prompting the matter to come under the scrutiny of the High Court.

Sharma's petition highlighted that despite the governor's notification and the commission's findings regarding illegal appointments, the Assembly has failed to take any action.

He warned that those appointed through illegal means would soon reach retirement age without any consequences.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)