Cong MLA demands Khattar’s ouster following SC remarks

Congress MLA and former minister Karan Singh Dalal on Thursday demanded the ouster of Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in view of the observations made by the Supreme Court in its August 11 order regarding a mining matter in Dadam of Bhiwani district.

The apex court in its order had observed that it is not clear how and why the petitioner, Sunder Marketing Associates alone was allowed to take over the share of its joint venture partner, Karamjeet Singh and Co Ltd (KJSL), and be the sole beneficiary of the dissolution of the joint venture and acquire the mining rights when it was originally not even qualified to participate in the auction.

“On the basis of the opinion given as well as on the basis of official notings, it was proposed by the mining engineer concerned on June 10, 2015 to allow the transfer of the entire share of KJSL, subject to certain conditions, in favour of the petitioner.

This was approved by the superior authorities including Haryana chief minister,’’ said the Congress MLA while quoting the SC orders.

The apex court observed that it cannot say with any degree of certainty how high is the reach of the petitioner but it is quite apparent from the facts of the case, that the reach is pretty high. Dalal, who held a press conference, said that he has also written to the Prime Minister in this regard.

The SC order read, “At this stage, it is useful to recall that the petitioner by itself was not qualified to participate in the auction and this is the admitted position. Only the joint venture was qualified to bid in the auction. That being the position, it was appreciated that under no circumstance could the letter of intent or the mining lease have been transferred from the joint venture in favour of the petitioner.

It is this totally illegal transfer carried out within five years of the execution of the mining lease that has prompted us to believe that the petitioner could exercise influence in high places.”

The SC while disposing off the petition said that all the laws applicable to the petitioner shall be strictly enforced by the state government regardless of its apparent influence in high places.

“We make it clear that we will hold the chief secretary of the state of Haryana responsible for any lapse in this regard.”