DEPUTY
CM - POLITY
News:
SC finds States do not
violate Constitution in appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers
What's
in the news?
●
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition
challenging the appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers in States on the ground
that no such position exists in the Constitution.
Key
takeaways from the SC Judgement:
●
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud
found no harm in the appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers, reasoning that they
were after all Members of Legislative
Assemblies of the States and Ministers of State governments and never mind the
nomenclature.
Legal
Rationale:
●
Chandrachud stated that Deputy Chief
Ministers are essentially State Ministers and require MLA status, which doesn’t violate the Constitution.
Equality
Concerns:
●
Petitioner argued appointments were driven
by religious and sectarian factors, violating Articles 14 and 15 of the
Constitution.
Court
Response:
●
Dismissed the petition, deeming it lacking
in substance.
Role
Clarification:
●
Chandrachud emphasized that Deputy Chief
Ministers function like other Ministers, possibly with seniority, but without
higher salaries.
Deputy
CM:
Constitutional
Status:
●
Deputy CM is a political post, not a constitutional one like the Vice President of
India.
Origin:
●
Originated from the post of Deputy Prime
Minister in 1947, with Sardar Vallabhai
Patel being the first Deputy PM.
Appointment
and Removal:
●
At the discretion of the Chief Minister, who can appoint multiple Deputy CMs.
Tenure:
●
No
fixed tenure.
●
Chief Minister can reshuffle portfolios or
remove Deputy CMs anytime.
Current
Status:
●
As of July 2023, 12 states in India have Deputy CMs.
Financial
Powers:
●
No specific financial authority.
●
Requires CM’s approval for expenditure
beyond allocated budget.
Rank
and Pay:
●
Deputy CMs hold a rank equivalent to cabinet ministers,
receiving similar pays and perks.
Portfolio
Allocation:
●
They are entrusted with portfolios,
although typically smaller in scale compared to the Chief Minister.
Administrative
Role:
●
They facilitate governance and
administration, acting as a bridge between the ruling party and its allies.