Delhi High Court on Thursday set aside Arvind Kejriwal government’s order appointing 21 AAP MLAs as parliamentary secretaries, reported PTI.
The Delhi government’s had appointed 21 AAP legislators as “parliamentary secretaries to ministers” last year. This decision had caused considerable controversy as the opposition criticised the move with both the BJP and the Congress had termed these appointments as grossly illegal.
The Centre’s BJP-led central government had stipulated these posts as “office of profit” thereby paving the way for their disqualification.
A Delhi lawyer had sent a petition to the President’s office, after the state cabinet cleared the proposal keeping parliamentary secretaries out of the office-of-profit purview on June 19.
Prashant Patel, based at Karkardooma Court, filed the plea asking the President to take action against the creation of 21 “unconstitutional” posts by the Delhi government.
If indeed this happens, the move will necessitate by-elections in 21 constituencies.
Those whose membership could be in danger include Alka Lamba, Adarsh Shastri, and Jarnail Singh.
As parliamentary secretaries, these MLAs are not entitled entitled to any additional salary, but they “may use government transport for official purposes and office space in the minister’s office will be provided to them to facilitate their work.”
The Election Commission on 22 July had reserved its order on whether to make the Congress, the BJP and the Delhi government parties to a petition on ‘Office of Profit’ seeking disqualification of 21 Aam Aadmi Party legislators for holding the post of parliamentary secretaries.
More to come