Parliamentary Secretaries

Parliamentary Secretaries

Parliamentary Secretaries are members of parliament from the ruling party who are appointed to assist Cabinet Ministers with their duties. They act as a link between ministers and other parliamentarians. At times, a Parliamentary Secretary is also a Minister of State, in which case they are assigned to a government department and have the same entitlements as a Minister of State. In certain states such as Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Goa, MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly have been appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries by the government. There is conflict over the sanctity of the post of Parliamentary Secretary since it does not derive its powers from the constitutions. As per many High Courts. the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries has been declared unconstitutional and they have given judgements against these appointments.