IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
Jagdish Bhalla, M. A. Khan
NIRDESH KUMAR DIXIT - Appellant
Versus
RENUKA CHOWDHURY - Respondents
Writ Petition 277 Of 2005
Decided On : 02/11/2005
Quo Warranto - Appointment of State Ministers - Article 74, 75, 163, 164, 166, 173, 236(a) - The court discussed the appointment and designation of State Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the oath of office and secrecy, the meaning of 'cabinet', and the classification of ministers. The court found no illegality in the appointment and designation of Ministers as Cabinet Minister, Minister for State, Deputy Minister, and dismissed the writ petition.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioners, as Secretaries of an Association, filed a writ petition seeking a writ in the nature of Quo Warranto against State Ministers in the Union government or in the State of Uttar Pradesh, alleging that the appointment of State Ministers and Deputy Ministers is not provided in the Indian Constitution.
Finding of the Court:
The court found no illegality in the appointment and designation of Ministers as Cabinet Minister, Minister for State, Deputy Minister, and dismissed the writ petition.
Issues: The main contention was the appointment of State Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the oath of office and secrecy, and the classification of ministers.
Ratio Decidendi: The court discussed the meaning of 'cabinet', the appointment and designation of State Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the oath of office and secrecy, and the classification of ministers.
Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed as the court found no illegality in the appointment and designation of Ministers as Cabinet Minister, Minister for State, Deputy Minister.
( 1 ) PETITIONERS are said to be the Secretaries of rastra raksha Manch an Association formed under 19 (1) (C) of the constitution and are Advocates by profession. They have filed the present writ petition as Public Interest Litigation seeking a writ in the nature of Quo-Warranto against the respondent no. 1 to 75 functioning as State Minister either in the Union government or in the State of Uttar Pradesh inter-alia on the ground that the Constitution does not provide for appointment of State Ministers and the third Schedule of the Constitution does not provide any separate form for the oath of office and secrecy of the State Ministers. The main reliefs sought for by the petitioners are reproduced hereunder:-{i} Issue a writ order or direction in the nature of Quo warranto asking the respondents 1 to 60 to show cause as to how they are functioning as State Ministers in Union or in the State of U. P. {ii} Issue a writ order or direction in the nature of certiorari thereby quashing the orders of appointment of respondents 1 to 60 after summoning their orders of appointment form them.
( 2 ) AT the very out set, we would like to mention that the petitioners have earlier filed a Writ Petition No. 3549[mb] of 2004; Nirdesh Kumar Dixit and others versus State of U. P. and others, which was dismissed by a Division Bench of this Court comprising of Honble Mr Justice Tarun Chatterji [ now Judge of Honble Supreme Court] and Honble Mr Justice Rakesh sharma. In the aforesaid writ petition, which was also in the nature of Public Interest Litigation the reliefs sought for were almost identical as prayed for in the present writ petition. The reliefs sought for in the aforesaid writ petition no. 3549[mb] of 2004 are being reproduced herein under:-" Issue a writ order or direction in the nature of certiorari quashing thereby all orders issued by respondent no. 1 and awarding the status of ministers of non ministers after summoning the same from respondents no. 1 and 3. (ii) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari thereby quashing the categorization of Ministers into cabinet minister and state ministers and by means of a writ in the nature of mandamus, direct the respondent no. 1 and 3 to treat all the ministers equal and to permit all of them to participate in the meetings of the council of ministers being chaired by Prime Minister or Chief minister. "
( 3 ) THE aforesaid writ petition no. 3549 (MB) of 2004 was dismissed on the ground of non-joinder of necessary parties and being defective.
( 4 ) THE main contention of the learned Counsel for the petitioner is that the Government of India has created new constitutional office like Deputy or State Minister, which is not provided in the Indian Constitution. The Constitution provides for the appointment of Minister not the State Minister [independent Charge], State Minister or Deputy Minister. Further the third schedule of the Constitution provides for the oath of office and secrecy of the Ministers. It does not provide any form of oath and secrecy for the State Minister [impendent charge] or State Ministers either in the State or in the Union and as such the appointment of the respondents no. 1 to 75 are void ab-initio.
( 5 ) LEARNED Counsel for the petitioner has referred to the constitution of various countries, namely, Cambodia, China, egypt, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and South africa where the Constitution permits for appointment of State ministers or Deputy Ministers and their duty is to assist the cabinet Ministers in the performance of their duties whereas there is no such provision in the Indian Constitution. The state Ministers in our country, according to the petitioners, do not participate in the aid and advice process for which a minister is appointed. Therefore, the oath of office and secrecy as State Minister is illegal.
( 6 ) INVITING our attention to Article 74 and 75 of the constitution which deals with the Creation of Council
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