AIZAWL, Sept 3 - Days after all seven Parliamentary Secretaries in Mizoram tendered resignations following the Supreme Court ruling, main Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) has demanded that Mizoram Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 be quashed forever.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, former Minister H Rammawia said that the Opposition had moved the Gauhati High Court in 2009 challenging the appointment of seven Parliamentary Secretaries by Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla.
Senior advocate C Lalramzauva who stands for the MNF had demanded that Mizoram Parliamentary Secretaries Act, 2009 be quashed as it is a clear violation of the Article 164 (1A) of the Constitution.
�We are against the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries who are enjoying the status at par with Minister as this is unconstitutional,� Rammawia said.
He said that Gauhati High Court, however, asked them to await the Supreme Court decision as the Parliamentary Secretaries Act of Assam and Nagaland are being challenged in the apex Court.
He said that on July 26, the Supreme Court made a judgment declaring �The Assam Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004� as �unconstitutional.� This clearly indicates that the Mizoram Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 is also unconstitutional, he added.
Rammawia further said that even though all the seven Parliamentary Secretaries have resigned, the MNF will continue to move and appeal the High Court to quash Mizoram Parliamentary Secretaries Act as it is a clear violation of Article 164 (1A) of the Constitution.
