Himachal High Court Scraps Chief Parliamentary Secretaries' Appointments

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has nullified the appointment of six Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, ruling the practice unconstitutional. BJP leader Jairam Thakur welcomed the decision. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu intends to discuss the ruling. This judgment follows challenges by BJP MLAs and affirms the repeal of the 2006 Act facilitating such appointments.

In a significant legal decision, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has declared the appointment of six Chief Parliamentary Secretaries illegitimate. The court recognized the appointments, conducted under a now-repealed 2006 Act, as unconstitutional, necessitating the withdrawal of salaries, allowances, and other privileges extended to these positions.

Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur expressed approval of the court's judgment, underscoring long-standing criticisms about the constitutionality of such appointments. This move represents a major legal validation for BJP's stance, which described the roles as equivalent to that of Cabinet ministers.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced plans to discuss the court's ruling with his cabinet ministers. As the political landscape adjusts, legal experts note that efforts to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court may not find support, as the court has firmly established the absence of state backings in enacting the 2006 Act.

(With inputs from agencies.)