Published on 11 Sep 2014 I have earlier too spoken about the need for the Punjab Government to cut down on their unnecessary expenses. More so because the Punjab Government is facing a financial crunch. Today, I will talk about the expenses it is incurring on the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS). In todays Punjabi Tribune, its Bathinda correspondent, Charanjit Bhullar, has given some details of this. While earlier there were 21 CPS in Punjab, now the strength is 19. Though this practice is not peculiar to any one state, Punjab has been rather liberal in appointing them. This practice of appointing CPS is to circumvent the restrictions on the number of ministers a state can have. As per the law, the number of ministers has to be 15 per cent of the total strength of the Vidhan Sabha - since in Punjab the number of MLAs is 117, Punjab has a total of 18 ministers at present. In order to accommodate its loyalists, the Chief Ministers usually take the CPS route. The rules do provide for CPS but that is more of an exception than a rule and the job of one odd CPS is to ensure smooth conduct of the legislative proceedings. Perhaps the framers of the Constitution did not visualise that this provision will be misused. Since the CPS are not administered the oath of office, they cant summon files or look at confidential papers of the government. In effect, they have no powers. Yet, they are extended full privileges. They get a house, a car with petrol and driver, a police escort vehicle, staff, medical and telephone expenses etc. It is estimated that the CPS cost the Government more than Rs 1 Lakh a day and if their support staff is calculated, the cost would be more than Rs 2 Lakh a day for all CPS. Even during the Congress regime in Punjab, the Government spent a lot of money on CPS but now the expense is more than double of that. Unfortunately, even the Courts have ignored this blatantly immoral and illegal practice. It is time the common people - you and me - speak up to prevent the taxpayers money being wasted in this unproductive manner. https://youtube/watch?v=I0EZfWKPEk8
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 12:47:09 +0000
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