The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea challenging the appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers in various states as being violative of Article 14. The apex court mentioned that the Deputy Chief Minister was firstly a minister within the state government and that the position was merely a label and nothing more.
The bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud along with Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra refused to entertain the petition considering it to be misconceived. Public Political Party, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court and sought a mandamus from the court to stop the unconstitutional appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers in various states.
The Chief Justice of India stated that a Deputy Chief Minister, was a minister first and that the post of a Deputy Chief Minister was only a label. CJI DY Chandrachud also explained that the appointment of a deputy Chief Minister has no bearing in the constitutional sense, as the label does not facilitate any extra perks like higher salary.
The advocate representing the petitioner contended that the exercise of appointing a deputy chief minister was in violation of Article 14. He pointed out that the appointments are setting a wrong example for the other authorities also. He questioned the basis of appointing a Deputy Chief Minister, adding that it is only religion and being from a particular sect of the society. He concluded that the appointments are against Article 14 and Article 51A of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court, not seemingly inclined to entertain the matter, dismissed the same. The apex court observed that the submission is such that there is no such office stipulated in the Constitution. The court underlined that a Deputy Chief Minister is first and foremost a minister in the government of the states. It added that the appellation of a Deputy Chief Minister does not breach the constitutional position.