Number of forest fires in Himachal has doubled, says Report
Himachal Pradesh this year has witnessed an increase in forest fire incidents by more than two times. This was revealed…
The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to file reply for maintainability of writ petition challenging the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries in Himachal.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Sandeep Sharma asked the government to file reply within one week and listed the matter on next Wednesday.
The Congress government in Himachal has appointed nine Chief Parliamentary Secretaries.
The petitioner, a Society named Rule of Governance had alleged in the petition that the state government had extended the facilities of a minister to the CPSs. The petitioner said the state already had 12 cabinet ministers and the appointment of CPs is illegal.
The petitioner alleged that the Act passed by the state legislature for grant of financial benefits to the CPSs is also an attempt to overreach the judgement of HP High Court, which had directed to remove the CPSs ad Parliamentary Secretaries in 2004. The petitioner alleged that the Delhi High Court had also quashed the appointment of the CPSs and the Supreme Court had not granted any stay on that.
The state government, however, contended that the facts of the case of Delhi High Court and the Himachal government were different. The government said the state had a legislation to appoint the CPSs and accordingly they were appointed.
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