PIL challenges Eknath Shinde govt's decision to stay some orders of previous MVA dispensation

A petition was filed on Monday in the Bombay High Court challenging the decision of the Eknath Shindeled Maharashtra government to stay circulars relating to appointments and developmental projects taken up by the earlier Maha Vikas Aghadi governmentThe petition filed by five persons some of whom are former Indian Administrative Service officers and social workers said the present government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had issued four resolutions cancelling orders passed by the previous MVA governmentThe impugned resolutions are without jurisdiction and the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is not empowered to stay or nullify the decisions of the earlier government which were lawfully taken the plea saidThe plea was mentioned by the petitioners lawyer S B Talekar on Monday before a division bench headed by Justice S V Gangapurwala which said it would be heard later this weekThe petition said as per Article 1641A of the Constitution of India there has to be not less than 12 ministers so as to constitute Council of Ministers and presently the total number of ministers was only two Shinde and FadnavisIn the absence of a duly constituted Council of Ministers the government ought not to have taken such major decisions of staying developmental projects and cancellation of appointments of members of statutory boards commissions and committees said the petition which challenged various resolutions passed between July 20 and 25Also Read Maharashtra Nashik logs 68 new Covid19 cases active tally 598By these resolutions projects and tenders the appointment of nonofficial members to statutory bodies committees etc were stayedThe decision to stay orders taken by the previous government is without any legitimate reason and passed in an arbitrary manner the plea saidIt claimed political leaders who have become ministers are not willing to give up control over the allocated finances and implementation of development schemes in order to suit their political philosophy convenience and political support baseThe politicians in Maharashtra inspired by greed for power have given rise to the present day turmoil political instability administrative vacuum and financial insecurity at all levels of administration in Maharashtra the plea saidIt further claimed since Shinde and Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister they have been busy meeting with the Prime Minister Home Minister and other BJP leaders to seek their blessingsThe CM and the Deputy CM have held three or four meetings of their cabinet in which they reversed important decisions of the previous government This includes shifting of the metro rail carshed back to Aarey Colony and a clearance to the Ahmedabad Mumbai bullet train project the petition saidThe plea has sought that the HC quash the resolutions issued by the present government between July 20 and July 25