THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, May 23: BJP state president and Jharkhand Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi launched a scathing attack on the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government on Friday, accusing it of deliberately weakening constitutional institutions to avoid scrutiny of corruption and maladministration.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters here, Marandi alleged that institutions meant to ensure transparency, accountability, and justice—such as the Lokayukta, State Women’s Commission, Information Commission, and Consumer Forums—have been rendered defunct due to prolonged vacancies in key positions.
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“Government Functioning on ‘Mukher Law’, Not Constitution”
He claimed, “The Hemant government is not running the state in accordance with the Constitution but through its own arbitrary rule, which I call ‘Mukher Law’.” Marandi further said that these institutions, which are supposed to act on public complaints and monitor government actions, have been deliberately left powerless.
He pointed out that the posts of chairperson and members in several bodies have remained vacant for years. “In some cases, there is a chairperson but no members, and in others, there is neither. These bodies exist only in name,” he said.
Marandi also criticized the government for delaying appointments under the pretext of the absence of a Leader of the Opposition. “Even when the BJP submitted the name of a leader twice in the previous term, no action was taken. Now that a Leader of the Opposition exists, the government still lacks the will to make appointments,” he stated.
Over 5,000 Cases Pending in Women’s Commission
Highlighting the consequences of institutional neglect, Marandi revealed that more than 5,000 cases are pending with the Jharkhand Women’s Commission, which has been without a chairperson or member since 2020.
“Women are not getting justice. The commission’s staff haven’t even received salaries, and a sanitation worker has died due to the situation,” he said.
Similarly, he added, more than a dozen consumer forums in different districts are functioning without either chairpersons or members.
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Lokayukta Vacant, Corruption Complaints Ignored
Marandi said the absence of a Lokayukta has stalled anti-corruption efforts in the state. “There is no mechanism for lodging complaints or initiating independent investigations against ministers, legislators, and senior officials,” he said, adding that even the ACB cannot be questioned without an independent Lokayukta.
He also pointed out that despite repeated directives from the High Court, the state government has failed to fill these key constitutional positions. “This proves the government wants no oversight or accountability. It is intentionally avoiding appointments so that no independent investigation or punitive action can be taken against powerful figures,” he said.
BJP Demands Immediate Appointments
Marandi demanded that the state government immediately appoint the Information Commissioner, Chairperson and Members of the Women’s Commission, Lokayukta, and other key positions in constitutional bodies.
BJP media in-charge Shivpujan Pathak and spokesperson Pradeep Sinha were also present at the press conference.
