Not bound to clear list proposed by govt: Naik

LUCKNOW: A day after he held back five nominees proposed by the state government for the Vidhan Parishad, governor Ram Naik on Friday said that he was not bound to accept the state government’s proposal if it sent it back to him for the second time.
He also showed his annoyance over the manner the five candidates -- and even the state government -- concealed the complaints and criminal cases lodged against them in their affidavits.According to Raj Bhawan sources, when he met chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday, he even told him that he should consider changing these five names.
The governor on Thursday approved four out of nine names and held back the remaining five, seeking more background information about them. This was the second time that he refused to clear the list proposed by the state government. About a month ago he had sent back the entire list, asking the state government to provide proper information about the nominees and whether they fit the bill as per the constitutional norms.
On Friday, in a reference to SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav’s comment that if the governor is bound the approve the list if it is re-sent to him after Cabinet’s nod, Naik told TOI: “Ram Gopalji is under the wrong impression because the governor is bound to give his consent only when it’s a bill and not in Constitutional matters. In the present case, giving consent to the list of tainted people was violation of the provisions of the Constitution and I am not at all bound by it.”
The governor told TOI that he was shocked over the manner the nominees whose names were held back did not disclose their criminal history in their affidavit, which itself was an offence. Naik has passed information to the state government that one candidate Sarfaraz Khan was in jail for five days after he travelled in the name of an MP. The same candidate was held at Delhi airport with revolver. But he never disclosed in his affidavit, the governor has informed the government.
He also said that the Constitutional provisions stated that the any person to be nominated by the state government for the legislative council has to have eminence in the field of the art, science, culture, literature and social works. “Firstly, the names sent by the government do not qualify in this category and secondly there are serious criminal charges against them that have to be clarified,” Naik has reportedly told the government.
ON HOLDOVER
Sarfaraz Khan | Was allegedly in jail for five days for travelling as an MP in train; was also caught with pistol at airport
Sanjay Seth | City-based builder faces serious charges of financial impropriety, but did not disclose.
Kamlesh Pathak | Facing nearly two dozen cases including in UP and MP
Raj Pal Kashyap | Facing criminal cases but did not disclose
Ranvijay Singh | Faced criminal cases , but concealed in his affidavit