Haryana govt notifies end of Ranjit Singh’s term as minister

Chandigarh: In an unusual turn of events, the Haryana govt announced on Tuesday that former independent MLA from Rania, Ranjit Singh, will cease to serve as a member of the council of ministers, effective Sept 24. The govt’s statement indicates that despite Singh’s claim of resigning from the Nayab Singh Saini cabinet on Sept 5, he had not formally submitted his resignation and continued to hold the position of minister till date.
As a non-MLA cannot remain a minister for more than six months, the Haryana govt was compelled to notify discontinuation of his tenure.
This marks a first in Haryana’s history where the state govt had to officially notify the end of a minister’s term due to their non-membership in the assembly. Sources in the govt confirmed that had the minister’s resignation been received and accepted, there would have been no need to notify the completion of his tenure.
“It is intimated that resignation of Ranjit Singh from the member of Legislative Assembly, Haryana, has been accepted by the speaker, Haryana vidhan sabha from March 24, 2024. Accordingly, he is completing his term as a member of the council of ministers, Haryana as an non-MLA on September 23. As per the provisions of Article 164 (4) of the Constitution of India, he will cease to be a member of the council of ministers from September 24, 2024. This is information and further action at your end,” according to the communication dated September 24, written by superintendent (cabinet). The information has been communicated to the political branch of the chief secretary’s office and the accounts branch for necessary information and action.
Interestingly, Ranjit Singh, former power and jail minister, had announced he had quit as a minister from the state cabinet on September 5, when his name was not mentioned in the first list of candidates released by the BJP for the state assembly polls. He had then announced his decision to contest as an independent candidate from Rania. Sources in the chief secretary’s office, however, revealed that the state govt was forced to announce completion of his tenure on account of non-receipt of his formal resignation letter till date.
When contacted, Ranjit Singh told TOI that he had already sent his resignation from the post of minister. When told about the state govt’s order issued on Tuesday, the former minister replied, “I think it is irrelevant now because now a few days are left in the voting for the next assembly and my focus is on the MLA’s election.”
Ranjit Singh was elected as an MLA from Rania as an Independent in the 2019 assembly elections. Before the parliamentary elections, he had joined BJP and was fielded by the saffron party to contest the Lok Sabha poll from Hisar. On account of his switching loyalties to BJP, he had to resign from the state assembly to avoid disqualification. However, he chose to continue as a minister.