The Jharkhand Assembly on Saturday issued a notification announcing that Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA Yogendra Prasad Mahto has lost his legislature membership as he was convicted and awarded a three-year jail term in a coal theft case.
As per the notification, the membership of JMM legislator has been terminated with effect from January 31 -- the day he was convicted and and the sentence was pronounced -- and has been rendered unfit to contest any elections during the sentence period.
A Ramgarh court sentenced Mahto and four others to three years' rigorous imprisonment in the 2010 coal theft case.
Mahto, a resident of Ramgarh district and a legislator from Gomia assembly seat, owned a coke plant.
In 2010, the Jharkhand police had lodged the coal theft case him, as illegal coal was recovered from his coke plant.
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He is second legislator of the current assembly to lose membership after being convicted by a court. Two years ago, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) legislator Kamal Kishore Bhagat was convicted and awarded seven years' imprisonment in another case.
As per the constitutional provisions, if a legislator or a member of Parliament is convicted and awarded at least two years' imprisonment, then he/ she will lose the membership of assembly/ Parliament.
--IANS
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