Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi appoints son-in-law Devendra Kumar as Personal Assistant

PATNA: In a controversial action, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has appointed his son-in-law as his Personal Assistant (PA) allegedly violating a rule and another kin as personal staff.

As per a notification of the state Cabinet Secretariat Department issued in June this year, Manjhi appointed his son-in-law Devendra Kumar as his Personal Assistant.

Another Manjhi kin Satyendra Kumar has been appointed as peon.

The appointments of close relatives violate a state Cabinet Secretariat Department order of May 23, 2000 which prohibits ministers to appoint a relative as Personal Assistant.

It says if such appointments have been made it should be quashed immediately, the notification bearing signature of the then Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat Girish Shankar says.

When a question was put to the Chief Minister, he tried to play it down.

"Is tarah ke aarop lagte rahte hai. Yah koi issue nahin hai (such allegations are levelled from time to time. This is no issue)," Manjhi told reporters emerging from state Cabinet meeting.

When mediapersons told him that appointments of relatives violates a 2000 order of the government, he said "I will see it".