Many states in the Indian Union have instituted the post of Parliamen...
Parliamentary secretaries are ruling party members appointed to assist ministers. They often hold the minister of State's rank and has the same entitlements and is assigned to a government department. They have access to all official files and documents
- Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam, Rajasthan, Punjab, Goa are some of the states where MLAs have been appointed Parliament Secretaries by the Government.
- Various petitions in the High Court have challenged Parliament Secretary's appointment, including in Delhi most recently.
- In June 2015, Calcutta HC quashed 24 Parliamentary Secretaries in West Bengal dubbing it unconstitutional.
Delhi High Court in 2016 quashed the appointment of Parliamentary secretaries as they are deemed to be Ministers, and there is a cap on the number of ministers in the government as per the Constitution (The limit is 10 per cent for Delhi, owing to its special status).
Many states in the Indian Union have instituted the post of Parliamen...
Explanation:
The statement is about the post of Parliamentary Secretary in Indian states, and the options describe the role of such a Secretary. Let's examine each option:
Option 1: Generally a Civil Servant/bureaucrat holding an 'Office of Profit'
- This option is not entirely accurate. A Parliamentary Secretary may or may not be a civil servant or a bureaucrat. In fact, in some states, the post is exclusively reserved for MLAs or MPs who are not part of the Cabinet.
- However, the term 'Office of Profit' is relevant here. If a Parliamentary Secretary receives any remuneration or perks for their role, it may be considered an 'Office of Profit' and may result in disqualification from their elected position.
Option 2: Assigned charge of an entire government department only in the absence of Cabinet Ministers
- This option is also not entirely accurate. The role of a Parliamentary Secretary can vary depending on the state and the government's policies.
- In some states, a Parliamentary Secretary may be assigned specific responsibilities related to a particular department or portfolio. They may assist the Cabinet Minister in charge of that department and perform tasks such as drafting policies, liaising with stakeholders, and monitoring progress.
- In other states, a Parliamentary Secretary may not have any specific responsibilities but may assist the Chief Minister or other senior leaders in various tasks such as conducting surveys, gathering feedback, or attending public events.
Therefore, neither option 1 nor option 2 provides a complete or accurate description of the role of a Parliamentary Secretary. The correct answer is option D, None.