Challenginga petition regarding the appointment of Sikkim Chief Minister Prem SinghTamang, the Supreme Court of India sought responses from the Centre and thestate government.
Thepetitioner has contended that Tamang was not qualified to hold the office as hewas convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, making him ineligible forthe job.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has also sought responses from the parties on a plea seeking a stay on Tamang taking any major policy decision or other important governance duties as the state's chief minister.
It hasbeen reported that Tamang was sent to jail in 2017 after he was found guilty ofmisappropriating government funds worth Rs. 9.5 lakh in a cow distributionscheme during his ministry as animal husbandry when the scam took place in between1994 and 1999. He was later released from jail on August 10, 2018.
Senioradvocate GV Rao who has settled the petition said that Tamang has not only beallowed to contest the elections but he has also been elected wrongfully as thechief minister despite being a disqualified and ineligible for contesting inthe elections and is thereby bad in law.
He alsostated that Tamang's appointment as the chief minister of the state wasunconstitutional and violates the fundamental core of the constitution.
Moreover,former chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling alleged that Tamang cannot contestthe elections till 2024.
