IMPHAL, July 1 (NNN): Manipur BJP today raised questions over the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries by "violating" the Constitution. Addressing the media at its party office, Election Management convenor of the party Thounaojam Chaoba Singh said his party will approach the Supreme Court after consulting the Central leadership over the matter. “The Congress government headed by Okram Ibobi Singh had violated the provision under Article 164 of the Constitution while appointing five Parliamentary Secretaries back in 2012,” Chaoba said. After inducting 12 cabinet ministers, the Ibobi ministry appointed five more legislators as Parliamentary Secretaries when he became the third-time Chief Minister of the state. As per the gazette notification, a Parliamentary Secretary enjoys the same status entitled to a minister with regard to salary and rank. “The appointment violated the Constitution. We’ll take up the matter with the Central leadership and then approach the apex court,” he said. “After due amendment was taken place in 2003, the Article 164 says the total number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the council of ministers, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members in the legislative assembly,: Chaoba said. He said, “In the case of Manipur which is a smaller state, the number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, is entitled to 12 only in the 60-memer assembly, according to the 91st Amendment of the Constitution.”
