Cuttack (Odisha), Aug 27 The Orissa High Court on Thursday reserved its judgment on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of two deputy chief ministers in the state.
The division bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Chittaranjan Dash reserved the judgment after concluding the hearing in the plea of a practicing lawyer of the High Court.
The petitioner claimed there was no such post of deputy chief minister in the Constitution and conferment of power, privilege and other amenities to them.
The PIL appealed to the court to order the immediate withdrawal of such facilities provided to the two deputy CMs in Odisha.
Opposing the PIL, Odisha's Advocate General Pitambar Acharya contended that the PIL is not only frivolous, but has been filed without proper research in the subject.
Similar challenges have been negated by three High Courts in the country, Acharya pointed out.
He said recently the High Courts of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Bombay have dismissed such PILs.
Citing the judgment of the Supreme Court, in the K M Sharma vs Chaudhary Devi Lal case, wherein the appointment of Lal as the deputy prime minister was under challenge, Acharya argued that the appointment of the deputy CMs is constitutionally permissible and there is no infirmity in their oath.
The bench, after prolonged hearing, reserved the matter for judgment.
