Himachal Pradesh Government Challenges High Court Ruling
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri Speaks Out
In Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri announced that the government is seeking legal advice and has approached the Supreme Court after the Himachal Pradesh High Court nullified the appointment of six chief parliamentary secretaries (CPS). Agnihotri stated, “We are consulting legal experts and have discussed this in the cabinet meeting. We have approached the Supreme Court.”
Political Tensions with BJP
Agnihotri accused the BJP of attempting to destabilize the Congress government, saying, “BJP does not like the Congress government from day one. They are repeatedly trying to remove the Congress government in the state.”
Minister Vikramaditya Singh’s Remarks
Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh echoed these sentiments, accusing the BJP of trying to topple their government. He emphasized, “This battle will be fought strongly politically and legally… We will win this battle strongly.”
BJP’s Allegations
BJP MP Harsh Mahajan claimed that the appointments were made due to instability within Congress. He stated, “There was groupism and instability within Congress and hence he (CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu) made these appointments.”
High Court’s Verdict
The Himachal Pradesh High Court declared the CPS appointments unconstitutional under the 2006 Act. The decision was made by Justices Vivek Singh Thakur and Bipin Singh Negi, following a challenge by ten BJP MLAs led by Satpal Sati.
Doubts Revealed
Himachal Pradesh -: Himachal Pradesh is a state in northern India, known for its beautiful mountains and scenic landscapes. It is a popular tourist destination.
Deputy Chief Minister -: The Deputy Chief Minister is a high-ranking official in the state government, second in command after the Chief Minister. They help in managing the state’s affairs.
High Court -: The High Court is a major court in India that deals with important legal cases. Each state in India has its own High Court.
CPS Appointments -: CPS stands for Chief Parliamentary Secretaries. They are officials appointed to assist ministers in their duties. The appointments were challenged in court.
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It has the final say on legal matters and can overrule decisions made by lower courts.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, a major political party in India. It is one of the two largest parties in the country, along with the Congress party.
Congress -: Congress is another major political party in India. It has been one of the oldest and most influential parties in the country’s history.
Unconstitutional -: Unconstitutional means something that is not allowed by the constitution, which is the set of rules that guides how a country is governed.
2006 Act -: The 2006 Act refers to a specific law passed in 2006. In this context, it likely relates to rules about government appointments.