The Election Commission has sent its opinion to Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais on a plea seeking that Chief Minister Hemant Soren be disqualified as an MLA for "violating electoral law" by allegedly extending a mining lease to himself, sources said today.
The Election Commission's opinion was sent to the Jharkhand Raj Bhavan in a sealed cover this morning, sources told Press Trust of India.
The Jharkhand Governor had referred the matter to the poll panel.
Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP, the petitioner in the case, has sought Hemant Soren's disqualification for "violating" section 9-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deals with disqualification for government contracts.
Under Article 192 of the Constitution, if any question arises as to whether a member of a House of the Legislature of a state has become subject to any of the disqualifications, the question shall be referred to the governor whose decision shall be final.
"Before giving any decision on any such question, the Governor shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion," it reads.
While dealing with such cases, the poll panel functions as a quasi-judicial body.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Amid Huge Buzz On Switch, A Champai Soren Clarification In Birthday Wish To Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi's "INDIA Will Fight'' Message Hemant Soren Flaunts His Prisoners' Stamp, Vows To Fight Injustice Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Siddaramaiah's Swipe At Governor Amid Calls For Resignation: 10 Points Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops Watch: Russian Woman Travels In Mumbai Local Train, Chats With Passengers Germany To Cut Down Military Aid For Ukraine In 2025: Report Hundreds Evacuated Amid Raging Forest Fire In Turkey: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.