Question : VACANCIES OF PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES

(a) the details of number of vacancies of parliamentary secretaries that can be created under the Constitution or to function under the Chief Ministers of States or they are appointed under any practice tradition;

(b) whether the parliamentary secretaries are placed under the definition of a Minister;

(c) if so, the details of the rules under which they are placed;

(d) whether the Union Government has received any complaint that in some States the number of parliamentary secretaries are appointed in more than the required number;

(e) if so, the action taken by the Union Government in this regard; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)

(a) to (c): In India, the institution of the office of Parliamentary Secretary has no statutory origin nor does it derive authority from the Constitution of India. The office of the Parliamentary Secretary in India was first created in 1951, purely for the purpose of assisting the Minister in parliamentary work. Unlike the Ministers, the oath to the Parliamentary Secretaries is administered by the Prime Minister and not by the President. The appointment of a Parliamentary Secretary is entirely at the discretion of the Prime Minister, who decides when and who should be appointed as a Parliamentary Secretary.

(d) to (f) As far as appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries in States is concerned, no information is available.