SAD: Posts can’t be regularised retrospectively

MAJITHIA SAYS THE APPOINTMENT VIOLATES THE 91ST AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

Chandigarh The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday condemned the Congress government for trying to regularise what it claimed was the illegal and unconstitutional appointment of six legislators as advisers in the rank of ministers with retrospective effect by giving its nod to amend the Punjab State Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1952

In a statement, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said all Congress legislators, who had been appointed as advisers, had already invited disqualification upon themselves by accepting an office of profit in the form of advisers in the rank of a cabinet/minister of the state rank.

He said the appointment violated the 91st amendment of the constitution which stated that the total number of ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total strength of the state assembly.

Claiming that these appointments could not be regularised retrospectively, Majithia added, “The very fact that the Congress government is trying to regularise the appointments by moving a Bill to amend Section 2 of the Punjab State Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification), Act proves that these were not made as per law.

“The government should not compound its mistake by going in for desperate measures to save these appointments and should scrap them immediately,” he added.

Majithia said the Shiromani Akali Dalwould also ask the Congress government to explain the rationale behind the move, as this had been done at a time when the state was unable to give mid-day meals, SC scholarships, old-age pension, shagun scheme, sugarcane dues or even DA instalments to its employees.