Hyderabad: The Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the TS government to reduce the term of chairman and managing committee members of the agricultural market committee in the state
A two-member bench comprising Justice Deepak Mishra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh was hearing appeals moved by the chairman and committee members challenging the HC order that “the legislature, in its wisdom, has substituted the word “appointment” and made it “nomination with retrospective effect” to enable it to curtail or reduce the term, the procedure for removal remains intact. “
Upholding the judgment, the SC said that “A nominee can go from office by efflux of time when the period is over. That is different than when he is removed. A nominated member, in praesenti, can also be removed by adopting the procedure during the period. Otherwise, he shall continue till his term is over; and the term is one year. The plea of vested right has no legs to stand upon and, therefore, we unhesitatingly repel the said submission”. The bench ruled that “a characteristic of the committees being different, Article 14 is not attracted. Thus, the said submission is sans substratum.”
