Bihar CM's son-in-law resigns as PA after controversy

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was at the centre of a controversy over the appointment of his son-in-law Devendra Kumar as his personal assistant, evoking sharp criticism following which Kumar resigned from the post.

"I have sent my resignation to the chief minister's personal secretary," Kumar told PTI on Wednesday night. He said that he had put in his papers as people were raising fingers over his appointment.

Earlier, Manjhi appointed Kumar as his PA and another kin as his personal staff, evoking sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party which accused the chief minister of violating rules.

As per a notification of the state cabinet secretariat department issued in June this year, Manjhi appointed Kumar as his PA. Another Manjhi kin Satyendra Kumar has been appointed as a peon.

The appointments of close relatives violate a state cabinet secretariat department order of May 23, 2000 which prohibits ministers to appoint a relative as a PA. It says if such appointments have been made it should be quashed immediately, the notification bearing signature of the then secretary in the cabinet secretariat Girish Shankar says.

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday said he was not aware of the rules and blamed the Cabinet department for not telling him about it before issuing the notification.

“I was not aware of the rules not to appoint close relatives as staff in the CM office. It was the duty of state cabinet secretariat to see (about law prohibiting such  appointments,” Manjhi said.

“The Cabinet department which issued the notification of the appointments did not tell me about the existing rules,” he said on appointment of his son-in-law Devendra Kumar as his PA. “As soon as the matter came to my knowledge, I removed my son-in-law,” Manjhi said.

About the appointment of his relative Satyendra Kumar, who has been appointed as peon through the same June 4, 2014 notification, Manjhi said he was his nephew and the matter did not come in the definition of close relatives in the existing law.

“Close relative means son, daughter and their spouse and not nephew. If you say he hails from the same caste as I am, then my every caste men will somewhere or other come as my relatives,” he said.

Responding to his critics on the appointments, Manjhi said, “Hame gaali dene wale apni patni ko jaali certificate ke aadhar par college professor banaye hua hai (the person abusing me has helped his wife become a college professor on the basis of a fake certificate).”

Meanwhile, senior state minister and a veteran dalit leader Ramai Ram has criticised the appointment and sought recovery of money from the officials responsible for making the appointment.

 “Rules have been violated. The son-in-law himself is saying that he had worked as PA since Manjhi days as a minister under Nitish Kumar...its astonishing how it happened,” said Ram, who is transport minister in Manjhi cabinet.

Devendra Kumar said, "As the CM's son-in-law, I have got many privileges. We are enjoying the facilities as well.” He has served as Manjhi's PA since the latter became Bihar's social welfare minister in 2006. "Why are objections being raised now just because my father-in law is the chief minister," he asked.

Image: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi