Governor Asks EC’s Opinion on Disqualification of Robert Romawia Royte

AIZAWL: The government of Mizoram has written to the Election Commission seeking their opinion regarding the position of minister Robert Romawia Royte. The petition seeks for the disqualification of Robert Romawia Royte for allegedly holding an “office of profit”.

The governor of Mizoram forwarded the letter to the Election Commission of India requesting the poll panel to look into a petition filed by the main opposition party in the state of Mizoram, the Zoram People’s Movement. The holding of a profit-making office has been said as the reason for asking for the disqualification of Robert Romawia Royte.

Robert Romawia Royte is a member of the Mizo National Front which is currently the ruling party in the state and holds multiple portfolios including Sports and Youth Services, Tourism and Information and Communication Technology in the Zoramthanga cabinet. He was also given the department of District Council and Minority Affairs recently which previously belonged to cabinet minister R. Lalzirliana.

On February 28, the Zoram People’s Movement, the opposition party in the state, had filed a petition with the governor of Mizoram urging him to disqualify Robert Romawia Royte for allegedly owning a consultancy firm which had worked on several projects and contracts under the state government in violation of the regulations.

According to the petition filed by the Zoram People’s Movement, Robert Romawia Royte is the sole owner of North East Consultancy Services. He continues to run his business and pay the Goods and Services Tax even after being elected to the state legislature in the year 2018.

The petition also mentioned that the company violated section 9A of the RP Act by entering into an agreement with the District Council and Minority Affairs department in June 2022 for the execution of two-year works under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram scheme. It also added that this agreement was executed by "single source selection" in violation of the Mizoram Public Procurement Rules, 2020 and the Mizoram Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 2008.

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The petition also mentioned that several other projects were executed by this firm and the minister had concealed his involvement at the time of filing his nominations in 2018. Also, the documentation shows Vanlalfelpuia Royte as the proprietor of the business, but since he is completely dependent on and lives under the same roof as his parents.