New Delhi:  The Supreme Court of India has dismissed the transfer petition filed by the Himachal Pradesh government concerning the appointment of the Chief Parliamentary Secretary. The apex court ruled that since the case is actively being heard by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, it should continue in that jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court advised the petitioner, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the state government, that if they are dissatisfied with the proceedings in the High Court, they have the option to intervene and address their grievances by filing the intervener in the apex court.

The Himachal Pradesh government had sought the transfer of its case to be heard concurrently with a similar petition from the Chhattisgarh government, currently pending in the Supreme Court regarding the appointment of the Chief Parliamentary Secretary.

However, due to ongoing elections in Chhattisgarh, the Supreme Court has not yet reached a decision on these matters, despite five years having passed since the filing of the petitions.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has been actively engaging with the case, particularly after the BJP Legislators   challenged the appointments in the High Court, asserting that the appointment of the Chief Parliamentary Secretary by the Sukhu government was both illegal and unconstitutional.

The rejection of the transfer petition by the Supreme Court comes as a setback for the Himachal Pradesh government, given that the High Court has been diligently addressing the matter and is expected to reach a decision in due course.

The Himachal Pradesh government, which has appointed multiple Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, including the Deputy Chief Minister, faces uncertainty regarding these appointments.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the government appears to be employing delaying tactics by shifting the matter from the High Court to the Supreme Court.