Arguing that appointing Governors convicted by courts can lead to “Constitutional crisis”, the Janata Dal (United) has urged President Pranab Mukherjee to reconsider the appointment of Kalyan Singh as Rajasthan Governor.
The party has cited an October 24, 1994, Supreme Court order that held Kalyan Singh for contempt of court. Kalyan Singh as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had assured the Supreme Court through an undertaking on December 5, 1992 that he will take adequate measures to protect Babri Masjid.
However, the Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992 by the communal forces and the Apex Court felt Kalyan Singh had not taken enough measures to protect the Masjid. He was sentenced a token imprisonment for a day along with fine of Rs2,000 for Contempt of Court.
“If a person convicted for contempt of court is made the head of State, this will certainly create Constitutional crisis,” said JD (U) leader KC Tyagi while arguing that Singh’s appointment as Rajasthan Governor should be stopped in order to protect the “dignity” of the post.
The party has urged President to seek legal advice to find out whether it will be appropriate to “appoint someone as Governor who has been imprisoned for making wrong commitment to the Supreme Court in an affidavit and involved in demolition of Babri Masjid.”
“JD(U) has requested President of Pranab Mukherjee to reconsider the decision of appointing Kalyan Singh. The appointment should be reconsidered, stopped to protect the dignity of the position of Governor, which the BJP government at the Centre has already damaged by unethically removing Governors,” Tyagi said.