Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday issued notice to the Government of Punjab and newly appointed six Chief Parliamentary Secretaries on a petition which challenged these appointements.
The Government of Punjab had appointed seven CPS last week but former Indian Hockey Captain Pargat Singh had refused to take up the new assignment at the fag end of the present tenure of the Government.
In his petition, advocate Jagmohan Singh Bhatti has sought directions for declaring and holding the posts held by Chief Parliamentary Secretaries in the State ‘illegal’ and ‘unconstitutional.’ Directions have also been sought for restraining the Finance Department from bearing the expenses of the illegal appointments and to withdraw all facilities extended to the respondents in the interest of the State, its people and the State Exchequer.
The petitioner has claimed the appointments of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Secretaries in Himachal Pradesh was quashed by the Himachal Pradesh High Court and the SlP against that order was withdrawn from the Supreme Court.
The petitioner has claimed that the appointments of the CPS and Parliamentary Secretaries was earlier challenged by the BJP but now the same party in the Government has appointed CPS in the State of Punjab.
The matter will now be taken up on May May 24.