The State Government on Thursday removed Chandrabhushan Kumar from the post of Chairperson of State Youth Commission, describing him ineligible to hold the post even as the Jharkhand High Court is likely to hear a contempt petition filed by Kumar on Friday.
A notification issued by the State Art, culture, Sports and youth affairs department said that Kumar's appointment was terminated owing to some defects found in his appointment as chairperson of Youth Commission. The letter further said that a show cause notice was issued to Kumar on July 17, 2013 in pursuance of the Jharkhand High Court directive asking why his appointment should not be cancelled on the ground of not fulfilling the qualifications required for it.
"He did not submit any proof regarding his place of birth in his reply, neither any concrete document regarding his work experience has been provided by him," said the notification, which also added that Kumar did not even turn up before the government to clear his side verbally hence the reply submitted by him could not be accepted.
Kumar, however, said that he was never called up by the government for verbal clarifications. "This is all concocted allegations made by the Government, I have submitted a copy of my passport along with my class 10th certificate and ration card with the reply submitted to the Government," he said. "As far as fulfilling the criteria for the post, I am owner of an IT company employing at least 500 people in the State, he said and added that he has also bagged Mother Teresa award for the excellence of work in the field.
He alleged that he alongwith other members are being victimized by the bureaucracy dominating the politicians in the State. Ashok Nag, who was also appointed as a Youth commission member, also alleged that the court was being disobeyed by the Government and despite the matter being in the court, they have dissolved the commission. "Even after the court's direction to reinstate the commission the Government did comply with it," said Nag.
According to Nag, the commission had to bear the brunt of having been constituted by the Arjun Munda government. "Since, the commission was appointed by the previous Government, the Soren Government has made it a prestige issue and deliberately created hurdles in our appointment while the State Minority Commission appointed the same day under the same notification has been functioning effectively," Nag added further.
Kumar said that they will not let it go and will fight it out in the court. The Youth Commission appointed by the Munda Government has been in controversy since its appointment on January 8. It had been earlier dissolved by Governor Syed Ahmed during the President's Rule. When the Commission members approached the Jharkhand High Court against the dissolution, it directed to reinstate the commission.
As the Government did not act on it, the commission members again filed a contempt application in the court following which a contempt notice was issued to the Government. As soon as the Government was issued a notice of contempt, it initiated a show cause notice to the members calling the whole process of their appointment as illegal. "The court directed the State to comply with the order, but the commission itself was terminated by the government," Kumar said.
Meanwhile, Advocate General RS Majumdar said that he had no information regarding the termination of the Youth Commission chairman. The contempt case against government is to be heard by the Jharkhand High Court on Friday.