SC notice to Badal on size of ministry

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Centre and state of Punjab on a PIL seeking directions to the respondents to cut down the size of Badal ministry to 15% of the total strength of the state assembly which is 117 while the number of ministers including Chief Minister is 18.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran issued notices on a petition filed by one Virender Kumar, retired school principal from Himachal Pradesh, who contended that the present strength of state council of ministers is 15.38% of the total strength which violates Article 164 of the Constitution and same should be cut down to 15% The contention of Punjab state is that rule of money transactions in the banks has been applied and 18 is the permissible strength.

UNI