PIL against grant of life time 'Cabinet Minister' status to a Goa politician

Tags: Person in news State News

Senior Goa leader Pratapsingh Rane has been honoured by conferring lifetime "Cabinet Minister" status for completing 50 years as an MLA in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Hence a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Bombay High Court against this decision.

• It has been said in the PIL that this step of the state government is in violation of the '91st Amendment of the Constitution'.

• The maximum number of members in the Goa cabinet is 12.

• After Rane was given the status of 'Cabinet Minister', the number of 'Cabinet Members' increased to 13, which is more than the maximum limit prescribed by the Constitution.

• Lifetime Status of the rank of Cabinet minister

• The former Chief Minister and former Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly mr. Rane had completed 50 years as a legislator.

• The cabinet decided that in future also those who complete 50 years and hold posts like CM and Speaker will be given cabinet status even after their retirement.

• What is the Constitution (91st Amendment) Act, 2003 ?

• It states that the total number of ministers, including the chief minister, in the council of ministers in a state should not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the legislative assembly of that state.

• It provides a condition that the number of ministers including the chief minister in a state should not be less than twelve.

• A cabinet minister for life would be entitled to 12 staff members – OSDs, support staff, peons, drivers – which would cost the exchequer Rs 90 lakh a year. Hence this decision is not justified.