Ornamental posts spoiling good governance

Seram Neken *

Manipur Assembly building :: Pix - TSE

Creation of new posts of Parliamentary Secretaries for appeasing Minister-monger MLAs is a futile political gimmick.

The sole purpose of appointing Parliamentary Secretaries in British political system is to impart requisite training to potential leaders for becoming effective ministers. In India, it is just an ornamental arrangement to appease MLAs who can not get ministerial berths. Whether administrative files will route through Parliamentary Secretaries or they will have a say in taking important decisions is a big quiz. No doubt, they will get official room, flag-post vehicles, salaries etc. at par with ministers.

Appointment of 21 Parliamentary Secretaries by Punjab State Government recently invited a public interest litigation, the judgment of which is still pending in law courts.

Earlier in 2005, Himachal Pradesh High Court had declared the similar appointments as unconstitutional. The effort of Goa government for the appointment of two Parliamentary Secretaries was also rejected by the Bombay High Court. There have already been pending cases in the Supreme Court regarding appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries in Nagaland and Assam.

Mizoram government is still facing similar case for appointment of six Parliamentary Secretaries of the state. A PIL against the appointment of nine chief parliamentary secretaries by Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also came up earlier. In 2006, the Supreme Court took up a case regarding appointment of seven Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and five Parliamentary Secretaries by the state government.

The appointments of Parliamentary Secretaries are illegal, unconstitutional and unnecessary as it has to be done for political stability only. Downsizing of council of ministers was welcome by politically conscious people of the state for it reduced expenses incurred for maintaining decorum of ministers.

Strict adherence to a small ministry prevented frequent revolts for chief-ministership and brought stability in government. A government can well complete its tenure by materializing the plans and policies with continuity. People in general appreciated the Anti-defection Act for its potential to maintain political stability.

However, the purpose and value of downsizing the council of ministers will be jeopardized with the creation of posts of Parliamentary Secretaries for the MLAs. Besides increasing the expenditure for these secretaries, the official business for various departments will face undue delay and intervention from political circles. It will hamper the smooth go of administration.

Creation of posts of Parliamentary Secretary is just a political gimmick to appease the MLAs on the race for ministership. The real target is those senior congress MLAs who earlier expected ministerial posts in the newly formed ministry. But the question is: who among those MLAs will happily take the post of Parliamentary Secretary?

It is unlikely that senior MLAs for whom the posts are created will be ready to be complacent on these petty posts. The gimmick will of course serve the purpose in regard to some young MLAs in the congress hierarchy who have never been ministers earlier. Former ministers may not be in a position to become Parliamentary Secretaries.

On the other hand, some new and young figures who potentially have a say on camp formations may be fitted into the posts. Appeasing the back-runner ruling MLAs with the petty positions of Parliamentary Secretaries will be a futile political gimmick in maintaining longevity of the present position.

There is no written provision for the post of Parliamentary Secretary in the Indian Constitution. When the size of council of ministers is drastically reduced with constitutional amendments, such posts become more and more useful to appease the politicians. But in fact, Parliamentary Secretaries will not enjoy much power and authority as ministers to serve the people.

Of course they will get the amenities like office room, vehicles, additional salaries and protocol just like ministers. More flag-post vehicles will be witnessed in the busy streets of Imphal city.

Accepting the posts of Parliamentary Secretaries for maintaining personal positions is not a good gesture of our leaders. There are a lot of businesses that an ordinary MLA can do, without holding any position. He/she can well participate in law making, planning and policy formulation.

He/she can well take active part in important deliberations and discussions. By doing so, he may perfectly enjoy his reputation of a true leader. As the Parliamentary Secretary's post is only ornamental and not necessary, it will not help in good governance.