Andhra Pradesh High Court stresses need for ‘strictly regulated policy’ for appointment of government advisers
The Hindu
A Division Bench of the court has expressed the view that there cannot be a ‘parallel bureaucracy’, directs Advocate-General to file counter and posts the matter to February 2 for further hearing
A Division Bench of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, led by Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and comprising Justice D.V.S.S. Somayajulu, has expressed the view that the government should have a strictly regulated policy for the appointment of advisers so that there is no “parallel bureaucracy.”
While hearing the writ petitions that challenged the appointment of J. Srikanth and N. Chandrasekhar Reddy as Government Advisers (Endowments and Employees’ welfare respectively) on Thursday, the Chief Justice said there “can’t be a parallel or vertical effect, and while the general pattern in other States is appointment of advisers to Ministers, which is defendable as in the case of Chhattisgarh, having advisers for departments creates a parallel system.”
The court then directed Advocate-General (A-G) S. Sriram to file a counter and posted the matter to February 2 for further hearing.
The A-G sought time for placing the entire data regarding the appointment of advisers and others in the capacities of consultants etc., and maintained that it was not a parallel system of administration, but one that had people with expertise in the respective fields, aiding in policy and decision-making in their departments.
Mr. Sriram stated that there was no firm statutory policy in this regard, but such appointments were made over the last 10 years with a definite job chart for the advisers to work in tandem with civil service.
The appointments since 2019 showed a clear link to government’s requirements and such power ought to be held as located in governance of the State.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.