A Public Interest litigation (PIl) related to the vacant ministerial berth in the State Cabinet was filed at the Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday by Rajya Sabha MPs Pradeep Balmuchu and Dheeraj Sahu. Both the petitioners have demanded immediate filling up of one ministerial berth in the state cabinet as it was against the spirit of Article164 (1) (A) of the constitution of India.
“The PIl has been filed by the two sitting Rajya Sabha MPs Pradeep Balmuchu and Dheeraj Sahu against the government stand that he was free to keep one of the ministerial berth vacant as the government has been doing well with it,” said petitioner’s advocate Rajiv Kumar. The petitioners apprehend that one out of the total 12 ministerial berths has deliberately been kept vacant with some malafide intentions, added Kumar.
According to Kumar, Article164 (1) (A) says that 15 per cent of the total strength of the house has to be filled in with ministers. Petitioner’s who had earlier given a representation to the Governor, moved to the Jharkhand High Court after no action was taken from the Rajbhawan, said Kumar.