PIL against parliamentary secretary post

SHILLONG, APR 20: A West Jaintia hills district resident Madal Sumer on Wednesday filed a PIL against the unconstitutional appointment of 18 parliamentary secretaries in the present Congress MUA-II led state government.

Admitting the petition during a hearing on Wednesday, the Meghalaya high court has granted time to the state government advocate appearing for the respondents to complete his instructions.

As per the order issued, the high court has directed that the issue be listed for May 4.

Sumer, a resident of Panaliar locality in Jowai, the district headquarters had petition before the court against the 18 parliamentary secretaries and Union of India.

“The PIL is aimed at protecting the sanctity and purity of Indian Constitution,” Sumer said.

Stating that there is a massive wastage of public money, he said, “Crores of rupees were spent on parliamentary secretaries (PS) annually.

He argued that the same amount could have been used for improving healthcare, education and uplift the living standard of the poor and the neglected lots in Meghalaya.

According to him, the legislators who are parliamentary secretary enjoy the perks and facilities offered to them in return for their support to the government.

Stating the money is supposed to be used for the development of the state, Sumer said, “But it is grossly misused to simply please the parliamentary secretaries.”

Alleging there is an extreme misusing of constitutional machinery in the state, Sumer said, “The post of PS is already declared unconstitutional by many High Courts in India.”

He further lambasted the legislators who instead of honouring the constitution which is the ‘Bible of all MLAs’, have chosen to misuse the constitution for their personal gains.

Claiming that the PIL is not meant at causing any political instability in the state, Sumer, however said, “But it is to be taken as the message to all our future legislatures to give importance to development and proper healthcare and education which is lacking everywhere except to some extent in the urban areas in the state, instead of misusing the constitutional machineries for their personal benefits.”-By Our Reporter