TNR Desk
Shimla: The legal challenge filed in the High Court against the appointment of Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri in riling Congress by 11 BJP legislators was withdrawn during the court hearing on Wednesday.
The petition, which alleged the unconstitutional nature of the appointment of the Deputy CM and Principal Parliamentary Secretaries, was taken back by the BJP representatives during the hearing. The hearing for the Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) appointments is scheduled for January 2.
The legal dispute regarding the Deputy CM was previously settled with a reserved judgment after a comprehensive argument in court. The court had seized records related to Mukesh Agnihotri’s oath from the Raj Bhavan and had reserved its judgment. However, in the interim, the petition challenging his appointment was withdrawn.
On another front, arguments from the petitioners in the CPS case have concluded, awaiting the government’s response. BJP’s legal representative, Satyapal Jain, confirmed the withdrawal of the challenge against the Deputy CM’s appointment. The hearing for the CPS appointments is set for January 2.
It is noteworthy that six legislators have been appointed as CPS in the Sukhwindar government, prompting a legal challenge in the Himachal Pradesh High Court by BJP legislators, including Satpal Singh Satti. The BJP alleges that the Congress government made the CPS appointments unconstitutionally. Despite the government’s attempt to transfer the case to the Supreme Court, the transfer was not accepted, and the High Court continues to hear the matter.
