Patna HC directs Jitan Ram Manjhi government not to take decisions having financial implications

Kumar’s counsel P K Shahi, an ex-advocate general of the state, said: “The court today said Manjhi government should not take any policy decisions that may have financial implications. The court, however, asked government to carry out routine works of governance.”
JD(U) leader and former CM Nitish Kumar had said that since Manjhi’s announcements did not have budgetary provisions, the recent cabinet decisions have no meaning. Manjhi cabinet had approved journalists pension scheme and included Paswan among Mahadalits.

Meanwhile, BJP on Monday boycotted all-party meet called by Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary over the Speaker addressing BJP Assembly Opposition leader Nand Kishore Yadav as “BJP leader in Assembly”. The all-party meeting that could not take any decision would be reconvened on February 18.

Both BJP and JD(U) have threatened to move court if they were denied status of the main opposition party. JD(U), which has 111 MLAs in House (97 with Nitish), claimed the position because BJP has 87 legislators. JD(U) Assembly leader Bijay Kumar Choudhary wondered how could they sit on the government side when they had been opposing trust vote.

BJP legislature party leader and former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, however, told The Indian Express: “When Nitish Kumar had been facing vote of confidence during his seven-day stint as CM in 2000, the House had functioned without main opposition party and there was obviously no Opposition leader. Nitish Kumar has been offering only logic of convenience.”