Chandigarh, Jan 17 (PTI) Opposition party in Punjab, theShiromani Akali Dal (SAD), today demanded a review of Cabinetdecisions taken by the state government in the wake of thePunjab and Haryana high court setting aside the appointment ofthe chief principal secretary.
Hailing the court's decision to set aside the appointmentof Suresh Kumar, the Chief Principal Secretary to ChiefMinister Amarinder Singh, the SAD said the development put aquestion mark on all Cabinet decisions as the officer'spresence in the Cabinet meetings was allegedly "illegal".
In a statement issued here, former minister and SADspokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the officer had knowledgeof all Cabinet decisions and even had a role in "influencing"them. "All these cabinet decisions should be reviewed now," hedemanded.
The Akali leader alleged that the credibility of theCongress government had hit "an all time low" with thepronouncement of the high court order. "The very fact that itsappointments are being struck down by the courts speak volumesabout its functioning," he said.
The government should review all decisions taken by theofficer and the chief minster's office should also bereconstituted as per Constitutional norms, Cheema added.
The Punjab and Haryana high court passed an order todaysetting aside the appointment of retired IAS officer SureshKumar.
Justice Rajan Gupta, while pronouncing the order, foundthe retired bureaucrat was holding public office "without theauthority of law".
Kumar, considered close to Singh, was appointed after theCongress came to power in the state last March. The post ofchief principal secretary was specially created for theretired IAS officer. PTI CHSIJT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.