Final argument on deputy CM's election petition on Oct 30

Ranchi, Sep 28 (UNI) The Jharkhand High Court today fixed October 30 for the final argument in connection with the election petition of Jharkhand's deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi.

Justice D P Singh passed the order while hearing an election petition filed by one Surendra Sharma.

The cross examination and the witnesses of both the parties have been completed.

Mr V P Singh appearing on behalf of the petitioner informed the court that his client's (Surender Sharma) nomination for Dumka seat during the Assembly election was wrongly rejected as he comes under the reserved category.

Mr Singh further informed that Mr Sharma, Lohra by caste, comes under the scheduled caste category.

During the cross examination Mr Marandi failed to acknowledge the date of resignation from the Rajya Sabha membership and the date on which nomination papers of the state Assembly elections were filed.

Mr Marandi had disclosed his caste as Santhal in his nomination paper and Santhal Christian comes under the backward category not under Schedule Tribe(ST), Mr Singh contended.

Dumka has been reserved seat from where Mr Marandi was elected.

Mr Sumit Garodia and Manjul Prasad appearing behalf of Mr Marandi pointed before the court that Mr Sharma is Lohar by caste which falls under the backward category and thus could not be treated as ST.

UNI