Disqualified as CPS, is Himachal Assembly membership of 6 Congress MLAs now in danger?
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The Himachal Pradesh High Court has disqualified as CPS (Chief Parliamentary Secretaries) the six Congress MLAs in the state, declaring the Act that facilitated their appointments was unconstitutional.
Following the court’s decision, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government has relieved the six legislators from their CPS posts. The government has now approached the Supreme Court for a review of the decision. However, the question being widely debated now is whether these MLAs will lose their Assembly membership too after being disqualified as CPS.
Speaking to a news outlet, former Chief Minister and senion BJP leader Jairam Thakur asserted that the high court’s directive should lead to the disqualification of the six MLAs. “These appointments fall under the category of ‘office of profit’, and therefore, following the high court’s ruling, these MLAs should lose their membership in the Assembly as well,” he said.
Jai Ram, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, cited the vacating of CPS offices at the Secretariat, withdrawal of staff and vehicles by as the Sukhu government as a “proof” that the six Congress MLAs were holding “office of profit”.
The former CM criticised the current Congress government over alleged impulsive decision-making since the government came into power. He cited the imposition and subsequent withdrawal of the controversial “toilet tax” and the unusual order for a CID investigation when samosas meant for the Chief Minister were reported missing. He described these incidents as damaging to the government’s image and a source of public ridicule, accusing the administration of mishandling economic policies that adversely affect state employees.
The high court’s CPS order came in response to applications filed by BJP MLAs and other leaders. Responding to the Sukhu government’s Supreme Court appeal on the CPS issue, the BJP too has filed a caveat, signalling its intention to participate in the legal proceedings.
