Jharkhand HC Reserves Order on Ex-CM Hemant Soren’s Plea Seeking Permission to Attend Assembly Session

The Jharkhand High Court has reserved its order on a petition filed by former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is currently under arrest, seeking permission to attend the ongoing budget session of the Jharkhand Assembly.

The session commenced on February 23 and is scheduled to conclude on March 2. Soren, who is also the JMM executive president, filed an application before the high court on Friday, requesting permission to participate in the budget session.

Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad reserved his order after hearing arguments from both sides in virtual mode.

Representing Soren, senior advocate Kapil Sibal contended that the presence of the JMM leader in the Assembly is essential during the budget session, emphasizing his status as a people’s representative.

Sibal argued that Soren has neither been charge-sheeted by the ED nor have charges been framed against him. In response, ED counsel and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju cited several Supreme Court rulings that prohibit a public representative from participating in assembly session proceedings.

This session marks the final one for the present government before the state heads into elections. Soren was arrested on January 31 by the ED for his alleged involvement in a land scam worth several crores. Following his arrest, senior JMM leader Champai Soren assumed the role of chief minister.