High Court disposes of PIL against Rana Gurjit

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 19

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today disposed of as “infructuous” a PIL for taking power portfolio from Rana Gurjit Singh after the Bench was told that he has already resigned.

In his affidavit placed before the Bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal, Rana stated that he had resigned as Power and Irrigation Minister and had divested himself of all shares in Rana Sugars Ltd. The affidavit came during the resumed hearing of the PIL filed by advocate Hari Chand Arora.

Elaborating, Rana said he sold all his shares in Rana Sugars Limited on May 18, 2017, and intimation was also sent to the stock exchange. He stated, “In view of the code of conduct for ministers prescribed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, the deponent has divested himself of all shares in Rana Sugars Limited…. In any case, the deponent has resigned as the Power and Irrigation Minister, Government of Punjab, and the resignation of the deponent has now been accepted.”

Arora had contended that Rana was required to be restrained from dealing in particular with matters pertaining to determination of rates for purchase of power from private producers and decisions for shutting down government thermal plants at Bathinda, Ropar, Rajpura, etc.

He alleged that Rana and his wife Rana Rajbans Kaur were majority shareholders in Rana Sugar Mills, a power-producing company. It had signed two agreements for sale of power to PSPCL.

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which determined power tariff, was bound by the policy decisions taken the state government. Alleging that Rana Gurjit Singh had conflicting interest as an individual and as a Cabinet minister, Arora added he should not have been given the Power Minister’s portfolio.

Resignation proves his guilt: Badal 

Muktsar: Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said on Friday that the resignation of Cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh and its acceptance by the Congress high command and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had proved that he received illegal gratification from the sand mining business. He targeted Capt Amarinder by terming Rana as the CM’s right-hand man. “If Rana was not guilty, then there was no need of giving resignation and its acceptance,” said Badal. TNS