BJP to move court on HPL appointment

Nearly two months after the West Bengal government installed Industries and Commerce Minister Partha Chatterjee at the helm of Haldia Petrochemicals (HPL) as chairman, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to move the court against the appointment, claiming this was an office of profit.

“We have already written a letter to election commissioner S Y Quraishi and will approach the governor soon. In the Jaya Bachchan versus the Union of India case, the Supreme Court judgment said an office of profit was an office which could yield a profit or even pecuniary gain. In Chatterjee’s case, though he claims he is not getting any salary, it may lead to pecuniary gain,” said Tapan Sikdar, BJP leader and former Union minister.

Chatterjee was appointed as the firm’s chairman in a fiercely-fought board room battle on February 27, after being appointed a non-executive director. He had replaced The Chatterjee Group chief, Purnendu Chatterjee, as chairman. Soon after, the state also cleared an amendment Bill on Article 102 (1) (A), which dealt with office of profit, to grant immunity to members of the legislative assembly holding positions as chairpersons or directors of various companies.