SHAKEEL AKHTER
Ranchi, Oct 12: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to continue its probe into the alleged Jharkhand Assembly appointment scam, which has remained stalled since the apex court’s stay order in November 2024.
The CBI filed an intervention petition urging the Supreme Court to lift the stay imposed on the investigation ordered earlier by the Jharkhand High Court. The High Court, in its detailed judgment delivered on October 23, 2023, had directed the CBI to investigate allegations of widespread irregularities, corruption, and misuse of authority in appointments made to various posts in the Jharkhand Assembly.
The Jharkhand Assembly appointment scam dates back to appointments and promotions made between 2001 and 2014, during the terms of multiple Speakers. The controversy began with the formation of a judicial commission to probe alleged corruption, favouritism, and manipulation in the recruitment process.
While the Supreme Court has yet to fix a date for hearing the CBI’s plea, the case has once again drawn attention to one of the most persistent controversies in Jharkhand’s legislative history.
CBI Seeks to Lift Stay and Continue Preliminary Enquiry
In its latest petition, the CBI stated that its investigation had not progressed beyond the preliminary stage due to the Supreme Court’s stay. The agency clarified that its Preliminary Enquiry (PE) merely aims to determine whether the allegations of corruption and irregularities are supported by evidence. The CBI emphasised that lifting the stay would not result in any immediate coercive action, as the PE only verifies facts before launching a full investigation.
The CBI’s petition also highlighted that the Governor of Jharkhand had in July 2014 ordered the formation of a one-member judicial commission to probe recruitment-related irregularities in the Assembly. The commission’s report revealed serious lapses and alleged bribery in appointments made during the tenure of former Assembly Speakers. Acting on this report, the Governor recommended a CBI investigation into the matter.
However, rather than implementing the commission’s recommendations, the Assembly reportedly set up a second commission—an action that later became a major point of contention.
High Court Found Attempt to Cover Up Irregularities
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed before the Jharkhand High Court challenged the formation of multiple judicial commissions, alleging that these were intended to conceal findings of corruption and nepotism in Assembly appointments.
After a detailed hearing, the High Court observed that the second judicial commission had been constituted to undermine the findings of the first. The court found sufficient grounds to involve the CBI, citing the recommendations of both commissions and the Governor’s directives.
Accordingly, the High Court ordered a CBI investigation into the alleged scam. Acting on the order, the CBI registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE). However, the Jharkhand Assembly subsequently approached the Supreme Court, which stayed the CBI probe until further orders, effectively halting all investigative activity.
Three Judicial Commissions, One Lingering Scandal
The Jharkhand Assembly appointment scam has been probed by three separate judicial commissions over the past decade.
The first commission, led by Justice Loknath Prasad (Retd), resigned after complaining that the Assembly had failed to cooperate with the inquiry. It was alleged that instead of providing the requested recruitment files, the Assembly submitted unrelated documents and refused to publish a public notice inviting individuals with relevant information to testify before the commission.
A second commission, chaired by Justice Vikramaditya Prasad (Retd), was later formed and given access to the required records. After a 30-point investigation, it found extensive irregularities in the recruitment process and recommended strong action against former Speakers Inder Singh Namdhari and Alamgir Alam. It also urged the Governor to hand the case over to the CBI.
Following the report, then Governor Droupadi Murmu (now the President of India) formally recommended a CBI probe. However, instead of implementing the recommendation, the Assembly formed a third commission under Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyay (Retd), a former Supreme Court judge.
Officially, the third commission’s role was to “remove legal inconsistencies” in the second commission’s findings. However, the High Court later concluded that it was established to dilute or negate the earlier inquiry’s conclusions. Justice Mukhopadhyay himself noted in his report that his panel had been provided only the second commission’s report, without supporting evidence or original documents, limiting his ability to verify the findings.
Recruitment Irregularities and Alleged Favouritism
The alleged irregularities include the appointment of candidates who either failed or scored zero in key tests. For example, one candidate wrote only half the required words in a shorthand test but was awarded disproportionately high marks. Another candidate scored zero in English shorthand but was still appointed.
Reports also state that 18 drivers were appointed—14 of whom failed their driving tests, while four others were recruited without appearing for any test.
During Inder Singh Namdhari’s tenure as Speaker, about 70 per cent of recruits reportedly came from his home district, Palamu. Under Alamgir Alam’s tenure, allegations of bribery, nepotism, and the appointment of ineligible candidates became widespread. Despite the gravity of these findings, no disciplinary action has been taken against any official or legislator so far.
