Jharkhand High Court Calls for CBI Probe into Assembly Appointment Irregularities

The Jharkhand High Court recommends referring the alleged illegal appointments in the Jharkhand Assembly to the CBI. This suggestion arose during a PIL hearing where it was argued that several appointments had been made through corrupt methods, with no actions taken on prior findings of irregularities.

The Jharkhand High Court on Monday suggested referring the alleged illegal appointments in the Jharkhand Assembly to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This recommendation emerged during a public interest litigation (PIL) hearing on purported irregularities in the Assembly's appointments process.

The bench of Acting Chief Justice Sunita Narain Prasad and Justice A.K. Rai examined the PIL filed by Shiv Shankar Sharma, who alleged that corrupt and backdoor methods were employed in appointments. Previous investigations by committees headed by retired Justices Vikramaditya Prasad and S.J. Mukhopadhyay found irregular practices.

Advocate Rajeev Kumar, representing Sharma, indicated that the reports from these judicial bodies highlighted serious irregularities. In 2018, based on Justice Mukhopadhyay's findings, the then-governor directed the Assembly Speaker to take corrective measures; however, no action was taken until 2021, prompting High Court intervention. Sharma's petition cautioned that those appointed through illicit means could soon retire without facing consequences.

(With inputs from agencies.)