After a specific direction by the Orissa High Court, it has almost been certain for Jharsuguda Congress MlA Naba Kishore Das to become a member of the District Mineral Fund (DMF).
While deciding an appeal filed by Das, the court has directed the State Government to nominate him as a DMF member within three weeks.
The Government is reportedly much worried as its plan to keep opposition party members away from the DMF came to light with the court judgement.
The Government had already made provisions to make people’s representatives members of the DMF by an Ordinance in 2015 while amending the Mineral Development & Control Act 1957. But due to alleged political considerations, the Government deprived the Jharsuguda MlA of becoming a DMF member. Protesting this, Das moved the High Court for its intervention in the matter.
Finally, on September 4, the court delivered judgement directing the Government to nominate Das as a member of the DMF within three weeks’ time.