Mumbai: The newly inducted 3 ministers who are not members of either house are now facing opposition from Congress and Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) as they demanded that these 3 ministers should not work as “ministers”. Opposition demanded to summon state advocate general in the Assembly to explain what advice he had given to the Chief Minister about these three ministers. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rejected this demand by opposition and defended these 3 ministers.
The former Chief Minister, Prithviraj Chavan raised this issue and Chavan had said that the member can be made minister only after getting elected again. He also cited the 91st constitutional amendment,which states that an MP or MLA should not be made minister after he/she resigns from the membership of Parliament or Legislature. He also demanded to summon Advocate General in the House. Chavan demanded that these three ministers should not be allowed to conduct official duties till the court gives directions in this case. Replying to this, Fadnavis said the court has not prevented the three ministers from conducting their duties and hence, they cannot be barred from functioning as ministers.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said a reply would be submitted to the Bombay High Court which has sought a response from Congress-turned BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil,NCP-turned Shiv Sena leader Jaydutt Kshirsagar, and RPI(A) leader Avinash Mahatekar in the state government on a plea challenging their appointment. The High Court on Monday sought the response from these 3 leaders who were recently appointed as ministers in the Fadnavis-led government. "Let the respondents (ministers) also get a chance to object or respond to the petition," the court said while posting the matter for further hearing after four weeks. Speaking on the issue, in the State Assembly, Fadnavis said, "A response would be given to the High Court after we receive the notice. This is notice before admission. The High Court did not find any urgency in the matter and hence, it has given four weeks to reply.
Fadnavis said he had taken advice from legal experts and was ready to cite the Supreme Court's directives to substantiate the appointment of Vikhe Patil, Kshirsagar and Mahatekar, who are not members of either of the two Houses in Legislature.
