The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation seeking a direction to appoint a new Governor on the ground that the incumbent’s five-year term had expired. Relying on the proviso to Article 156(3) and the Supreme Court’s decision in Krishna Ballabh Sahay, the Court held that a Governor continues in office until his successor enters upon it, so no constitutional vacuum arises. It also faulted the petitioner for not disclosing his bona fides.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld a direction granting Veterinary Assistant Surgeons the assured career-progression pay scale at 5, 10, 15 and 30 years of service, on par with medical and dental doctors, rejecting the State’s claim that a different department bars parity. Observing that all three are healers, one of them of voiceless beings, the Court held that employees doing the same nature of work cannot be discriminated against on higher pay.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court restored AITC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s petition challenging an arrest warrant issued in a criminal defamation case and agreed to examine the matter further. The Court also stayed execution of the warrant until further orders, providing interim relief to the Trinamool Congress leader.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court held that advocates operating offices from their residences cannot be charged commercial electricity tariffs, observing that the legal profession differs fundamentally from trade or business activities since legal practice does not involve buying, selling or commercial trading of goods or services.
