Overview

• Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das accused Hemant Soren’s government of depriving tribal communities of constitutional self-rule by delaying PESA implementation.
• Das noted that Jharkhand published draft rules in July 2023 and secured Advocate General approval in March 2024 but has yet to seek cabinet sign-off.
• He charged that both religious influence and vested illegal-mining interests are blocking Gram Sabha control over minor minerals and sand ghats.
• JMM central general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey denied the allegations and said the PESA procedure has entered its final statutory stage.
• Jharkhand remains the only state yet to enforce the 1996 PESA Act across its 13 Scheduled Area districts, drawing criticism from former Chief Minister Raghubar Das.