Patna,(BiharTimes): Bihar chiefminister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s third son-in-law, Devendra Kumar, may soon be reinstated to his old post as his personal assistant as the definition of ‘saga sambandhi’ has been changed by the state government.Devendra, who joined the CM office as the PA on June 4 had to resign on November 5 last, was once again seen at 1 Anne Marg on Monday when Manjhi was holding the Janata Darbar.

Though he told the mediapersons that he was there because he had not seen Janata Darbar, the reason for his presence there was very much known.The main opposition party, the BJP, created storm last month over the issue, when the fact is that he had served as Manjhi’s PA for six long years when the latter was the minister in the Nitish cabinet and the saffron party was sharing power in the state.It is not only during the Janata Dabar, but in several other programmes of the CM that Devendra was seen in the last few days.

At Janata Darbbar Devendra was occupying a chair meant for state government officials. But he hastened to tell the mediapersons that he was therein a personal capacity as people come to meet him for their problems.

He also said that the rules regarding the appointment of relatives were not properly defined when he had to quit. But they are clearly defined now, he added.He alleged that he had been the victim of a campaign by the Opposition and would continue to serve his father-in-law with or without any official position.

It needs to be recalled that on December 3, the Manjhi government had amended a circular issued by the Rabri Devi government in May 2000 which had barred appointment of relatives as PA or any other staff in the offices of any minister or the chief minister. Thenew circular, however, specified that only sons, daughters and dependent parents could not be appointed as staff.