ECI asks Tripura govt to take action against MLA

Agartala, Aug 28 (UNI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed the Tripura Legislative Assembly Secretary and Returning Officer of 31 Shalgara constitutency of the state to take action against RSP MLA Partha Das who was elected in the last Assembly elections with false affidavit.

Following a complaint filed by Opposition Congress and subsequent evidence in regard to possessing fake Scheduled Caste certificate by Left Front constituent RSP MLA Partha Das, the ECI recently asked the state authorities to take action under 125 A of Representative of Peoples' Act (RPA) and violation of Article 193 of the Constitution.

In July, Leader of the Opposition Ratan Lal Nath had filed a complaint against Mr Das following the gazette notification of the state government that the SC certificate of the MLA's elder brother Dr Chandan Das, a homeopathic doctor, was established false in three phases of investigation - SC and OBC Welfare authority, State Vigilance and state-level enquiry committee.

The ECI had taken the complaint into cognizance, as prima facie established that Dr Chandan Das and Mr Partha Das belonged to the same family, Mr Nath said, adding that the ECI instructed the state authorities to take action.

''As per RPA, Mr Das must pay Rs 500 per day from the date on which he had taken oath as MLA, along with jail custody, and according to Article 193 of the Constitution, he has to pay penalty.

The state government also has separate law against procuring fake caste certificate that has the provision of five years jail and penalty,'' Mr Nath said.

He criticised the Left Front government for not taking any action against Mr Das even after establishment of the MLA's forgery and false affidavit while demanding his immediate removal from the Assembly and instituting legal action for breaching the privilege of the House.

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