The Cabinet expansion carried out by Manohar lal Khattar Government in Haryana has come under judicial scanner. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday put the State of Haryana and Union of India on notice, on a petition against the recent induction of three Ministers in Haryana Cabinet.
The notice came on a PIl filed by Advocate Jagmohan Singh Bhatti, wherein the petitioner has sought orders from the court, declaring and holding the posts held by the newly-inducted Minister as illegal, unconstitutional, and contrary to the law.
The Haryana Government had inducted Vipul Goyal (Cabinet rank), Banwari lal, (Minister of state with Independent charge) and Mahish Grover (Minister of State with Independent charge) in the State Cabinet of Haryana headed by Khattar on July 22.
Bhatti contended the Constitution of India restricted the size of Cabinet to the 15 per cent of the total house strength. He added the Cabinet’s strength has exceeded 15 per cent with the newly-added Ministers.
He argued that Haryana had a 90-member Aassembly and in view of the 91st amendment effective from July 2004, the number of ministers in the State could not exceed 13.
Taking up the matter, a Division Bench of the High Court headed by Justice SS Saron asked Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and law department, Haryana, Chief Secretary Haryana and the inducted ministers to file their replies on the contentions raised in the petition. The matter will come up for hearing on August 31.