Sources here said the Supreme Court would conduct a hearing on the petition against the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries in Nagaland and Assam on May 10, 2010.
The verdict of the apex court would determine not only the fate of the Parliamentary Secretaries of Nagaland and Assam, but also that of the six Parliamentary Secretaries in Mizoram.
Former state Law Minister H Rammawi challenged the legality of the appointment of the Parliamentary Secretaries in Mizoram, alleging that it was a clear violation of the Constitution (91st Amendment) Act, 2003, which stated that the number of Council of Ministers, including the chief minister, should not exceed 15 per cent of the total number of the members of the state Assembly.
In the case of smaller states like Mizoram, the number of ministers, including the chief minister, should not be less than 12.
‘The appointment of six Parliamentary Secretaries mean Mizoram has 18 Ministers and Minister of States which is a clear violation of the Article 164 (1A),’ Mr Rammawi said.