RAIPUR: In an apparent setback to the Raman Singh government, the Chhattisgarh High court on Tuesday ordered the seizure of powers of all parliamentary secretaries appointed by the state.
The HC observed that if the parliamentary secretaries were not appointed by the Governor then they didn’t have constitutional legitimacy and should not be allowed to work in that position. It instructed withdrawal of their powers and facilities till August 23 when the final verdict would be delivered.
The petitioners, senior Congress MLA Mohammed Akbar and social activist Rakesh Choubey, calling the appointment of parliamentary secretaries as illegal & unconstitutional had challenged their appointment and pleaded the court to quash their post.
Chhattisgarh has 11 parliamentary secretaries who enjoy minister status and are said to assist ministers in their duties.
The Supreme Court last week quashed the Parliamentary Secretaries Act of Assam declaring it as unconstitutional.