By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: That the State government is maintaining a contradictory stand on the eligibility of arrested GNLA chief Champion Sangma contesting election has come to light with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Naik making it clear that the rebel leader is still eligible to contest the elections.
Naik’s statement came a day after it was reported that Chmapion’s nominations would have been rejected since he was dismissed from Government service. The returning officer can reject the nomination papers of a candidate who was dismissed from Government service as per the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951, an official quoting the Para 9 of the Act had said on Friday.
However, the sub-section 2 of Para 9 says “a certificate issued by the Election Commission to the effect that a person having held office under the government of India or the under the government of a state has or has not been dismissed for corruption of for disloyalty to the state shall be conclusive proof of the fact.”
Naik while emphasizing on sub-section 2 of Para 9 of the Act, 1951 on Saturday said that the Election Commission Of India till date has not issued any certificate saying that Champion has been dismissed for ‘disloyalty to the state’.
“Since no certificate has been issued by the Election Commission, Champion can not barred from contesting elections,” he said.
The sub-section 2 of Para 9 of Act also says “No certificate to the effect that a person has been dismissed for corruption or for disloyalty to the state shall be issued unless an opportunity of being heard has been give to the said person”.
Naik added that the Commission could have issued the certificate after following all the procedures.
Earlier, the East Garo Hills district administration had already prepared the ground works to reject Champion’s nomination papers had he submitted the same.
It was in August 2010 that Sangma was dismissed from service for deserting the police department and subsequently forming GNLA.