The New Indian Express ·
Dy CM is just name, not constitutional position, clears Orissa HC
CUTTACK: The designation of deputy chief minister does not place a person above other members of the Council of Ministers, the Orissa High Court has ruled, dismissing a PIL challenging the perceived special status and protocol extended to the two deputy CMs in the state.
A two-judge bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Chittaranjan Dash, in its judgement uploaded online on Thursday, said the term “Deputy Chief Minister” is merely descriptive and does not create a separate constitutional position with powers superior to those of other ministers.
The PIL was filed by practising legal professional Eleena Dash, who questioned the nomenclature and alleged that deputy chief ministers were being placed on a higher pedestal than other members of the Council of Ministers, particularly in matters of protocol.
