Delhi, 12 February: The Supreme Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers (DyCM) in various state governments.
The court, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, stated that a Deputy Chief Minister is first and foremost a minister in the state government and the portfolio holds no real constitutional significance. The bench also included Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, who expressed that the plea lacked substance and should be dismissed.
The PIL, filed by advocate Mohan Lal Sharma, argued that the appointment of Deputy Chief Ministers goes against Article 164 of the Constitution which only provides for the appointment of Chief Ministers.
However, the court stated that this appointment does not affect the citizens or public of the states and merely serves as a label for those holding the position. The bench also highlighted that Deputy Chief Ministers do not receive higher salaries and are not entitled to take independent decisions as they are projected to be equal to Chief Ministers.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s decision affirms that the role of Deputy Chief Ministers is purely symbolic and does not hold any constitutional significance in terms of governance.
