Monday 13 February 2012 Government 2.0: The Road Ahead
A former is a former, opines Jharkhand Raj Bhavan

Jharkhand Governor has asked the government to examine legitimacy of facilities extended to former Chief Ministers of the state

Ranchi: Facilities extended to former Chief Ministers (CMs) by Jharkhand government have come under the scanner of the Raj Bhawan. Taking it as an unconventional practice and wastage of public money, Governor MOH Farook has asked his secretariat to examine its legitimacy vis-à-vis the government’s framework.

The governor has been prompted into action in the matter after a delegation of the State Congress leaders including Rajya Sabha Member Ram Dayal Munda met him to question the legalities of the Government’s decision to bear the expenses of residential accommodation, vehicles and other staff members for their offices.

All former Chief Ministers — Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, Madhu Koda and Sibu Soren—who have been unseated from the chair without completing full term in office, are enjoying residential accommodation in posh localities, the cost of which stands around Rs 50 crore at the present market value.

The RS member, in the petition to the Governor, had challenged the legality of the Government’s decision to offer the State facilities to the former CMs on the ground that the then chief minister Babulal Marandi had got it approved by the Cabinet four days after he lost the majority on the floor of the House in 2003.

“Technically, Marandi did not have the right to approve of such a decision when he was no longer the Chief Minister. Apart from the sprawling residential facilities, the former CMs have been provided with all infrastructures for their offices including staffs,” contended Ram Dayal Munda.  

Principal Secretary to Governor Sudhir Tripathi told the iGovernment that matter has been referred to the Cabinet Coordination Department to look into it and submit a detailed report as soon as possible.

Raj Bhawan sources said that Farook was stunned to know about the privileges being enjoyed by the former CMs. “I was provided with free residence facility for four days after I quit as the Chief Minister of Pondichery,” he told the Raj Bhawan officials.

Even in case of Bihar, from which Jharkhand was carved out a decade ago, former Chief Minister like Jagannath Mishra had to vacate his official residence within a few days and shifted in a private bungalow.

Similarly,Prime Ministers and former union ministers don’t enjoy the kind of facilities being offered to former CMs of Jharkhand.

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