Himachal Pradesh High Court’s Verdict on CPS Appointments
Background
The Himachal Pradesh High Court recently ruled that the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) was unconstitutional. This decision has led to varied reactions from political leaders in the state.
Reactions from Political Leaders
Jai Ram Thakur’s Support
Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, supported the court’s decision, emphasizing that the CPS appointments were unconstitutional. He noted that the CPSs were functioning at a level similar to Cabinet Ministers.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s Response
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that he had not yet fully reviewed the verdict but would analyze it with his team. The state government is considering appealing the decision in the apex court.
Congress Leaders’ Views
Congress MLA Kishori Lal expressed respect for the court’s order, suggesting that the impact of the ruling might be minimal. Mohan Lal Brakta, another Congress MLA and CPS, also respected the verdict and clarified that CPSs did not receive ministerial-level facilities.
Legal Implications
The High Court’s decision challenges the legal basis of the CPS appointments, potentially leading to a legal battle in India’s apex court. The appointments were initially made in January 2023, involving six Congress MLAs.
Doubts Revealed
Himachal Pradesh High Court -: The Himachal Pradesh High Court is a big building where judges work. They make important decisions about laws in the state of Himachal Pradesh, which is a place in India.
CPS -: CPS stands for Chief Parliamentary Secretaries. They are people who help ministers in the government with their work, like assistants.
Unconstitutional -: Unconstitutional means something is not allowed by the rules or laws of the country. In this case, it means the way CPS were appointed was not following the rules.
CM Sukhu -: CM Sukhu is short for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He is the leader of the government in Himachal Pradesh.
LoP Thakur -: LoP Thakur refers to Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur. He is a leader from a different political party than the one in power and gives his opinions on government decisions.
Congress MLAs -: Congress MLAs are members of the Legislative Assembly from the Congress party. They are elected to make laws and decisions for the state.
Apex court -: The apex court is the highest court in India, called the Supreme Court. It makes the final decisions on important legal matters.
