Jharkhand News: Supreme Court to Hear Ranchi DC Manjunath Bhajantri’s Petition on December 6

Ranchi, December 02, 2024: The Supreme Court is set to hear the petition filed by Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manjunath Bhajantri on December 6, according to media reports. Manjunath Bhajantri had approached the highest court with a Special Leave Petition (SLP), challenging a Jharkhand High Court order that had directed him to be kept away from election duties.

Background on the Petition Filed by Ranchi DC Manjunath Bhajantri

Manjunath Bhajantri, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, filed the SLP in the Supreme Court after the High Court ruled against him. On September 22, the Jharkhand High Court had accepted a petition for departmental action against MANBhajantri, which included a directive to remove him from election-related tasks. Bhajantri, in his plea, is seeking the cancellation of the High Court’s order.

Ranchi DC Manjunath Bhajantri Removed from Election Duties

The High Court’s decision, following the petition, led to Bhajantri’s exclusion from election duties in the state. Moreover, he was swiftly removed from the position of Ranchi’s DC during the imposition of the model code of conduct for the upcoming state assembly elections. In his place, Varun Ranjan was appointed as the new DC of Ranchi.

However, after the swearing-in of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the state government decided to reinstate Manjunath Bhajantri as the Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi.

Political and Administrative Developments Surrounding the Case

The legal and administrative developments surrounding this case have garnered significant attention, especially given the involvement of the Jharkhand High Court and the Supreme Court. Manjunath Bhajantri’s reinstatement to his position by the state government, after his removal due to election code violations, has sparked political debate.

As the matter proceeds to the Supreme Court for a hearing on December 6, it is expected that the decision will have far-reaching consequences for election management and governance in the state.