Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma requested extra time from the court on Friday to answer to a summons issued against him in a matter involving a violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) during the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Sarma had been asked by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (Kamrup Metro) to appear in court on February 25.
The Election Commission had previously filed a case against Sarma based on an accusation by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) that he had done an interview to a state-run satellite news channel after the MCC had been imposed.
The complainant’s side has also presented digital proof against Sarma. A representative of the news station has also been summoned to appear before the court.
While the court found prima facie material u/s 126(1)(b) of the Representation of People’s Act against the two accused to take cognizance of the offence, it also stated that no ‘Sanction’ was required to prosecute Sarma, who was currently the chief minister, because he allegedly committed the violation while not performing his duties as a minister.
“I have gone over the full materials on record to assess the aforesaid point of sanction, and I have determined that the accused Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma did not commit the claimed offence of the case while doing his duty as a Minister or Public servant.” “Let summons be issued against Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma in light of the aforementioned debate,” the CJM ordered.
The court has set the next hearing date for March 21.