Kangra MP Calls for Recovery of Funds on High Court’s Ruling on CPS Appointments
Shimla: 0Along with him were BJP state vice president Sanjeev Katwal, Dr. Rajeev Sahjal, state media in-charge Karan Nanda, spokesperson Chetan Bragta, and treasurer Kamal Sood.
In a conversation with the media, Dr. Bhardwaj expressed his strong support for the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s historic decision to cancel the appointments of the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS). He stated that the BJP and the public had been opposing these appointments ever since the current government made them, as they were putting a financial burden on the state.
Bhardwaj said, “The High Court’s decision has provided much-needed relief to the people of the state. The financial burden created by these appointments has been overwhelming. The money spent on these appointments should be returned to the state treasury, as it was a misuse of government funds.”
He also remarked on the government’s plan to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court, stating that based on the Court’s clear verdict, no such appeal would succeed. “Morally, the CPS should resign on their own,” Bhardwaj added.
The High Court, in its ruling, dismissed the Himachal Pradesh Parliamentary Secretary Act, 2006, as unconstitutional and beyond the legislative powers of the state assembly. The court’s decision also invalidated the appointments made under this act, declaring them illegal, unconstitutional, and void. Point number 50 of the ruling clearly stated that these appointments should be annulled.
The six legislators appointed as CPS were M.L. Brakta (MLA, Rohru), Sundar Singh Thakur (MLA, Kullu), Sanjay Awasthi (MLA, Arki), Kishori Lal (MLA, Baijnath), Ram Kumar Chaudhary (MLA, Doon), and Ashish Butel (MLA, Palampur). Bhardwaj emphasized that the government should recover all the funds spent on these appointments, including their salaries, allowances, and other benefits.
The BJP leader urged the government to take immediate action and ensure that taxpayers’ money is returned to the state coffers.
