NPCC asks governor to remove parliamentary secretaries and advisors

Dimapur, July 30 (EMN): Citing the Supreme Court’s recent ruling to declare The Assam Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 as unconstitutional, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded the removal of parliamentary secretaries and advisors appointed by the government of Nagaland. The NPCC, led by its president, K Therie met Governor PB Acharya on July 28 last at the Raj Bhavan to submit the demand, according to a press release issued by the NPCC media cell on Sunday. According to the statement, the governor was reminded that the apex court had declared said Act as ‘unconstitutional as well as binding all over the country’. “The NPCC in its representation strongly urged the governor that the appointment of parliamentary secretaries and advisors in Nagaland may also be interfered in accordance with the Supreme Court judgment, since their appointment is unconstitutional and without any legal sanction”, the statement read. The apex court had on July 26 last, ruled that the 2004 legislation was “unconstitutional” stating that the then Congress-led government lacked the competence to enact it. "We are of the opinion that the Legislature of Assam lacks the competence to make the impugned Act. In view of the above conclusion, we do not see it necessary to examine the various other issues identified by us earlier in this judgment. "The writ petition is allowed. The impugned Act is declared unconstitutional," the bench, headed by Justice J Chelameswaralso and comprising justices R K Agrawal and A M Sapre, had ruled.