Kataka: The Orissa High Court has dismissed a PIL challenging the constitutional validity of the appointment of two Deputy Chief Ministers in Odisha, holding that the designation is only descriptive without any extra powers.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Chittaranjan Dash had concluded hearing the PIL and reserved its judgment on August 27, 2026. The court pronounced its verdict on Thursday, dismissing the petition.
While dismissing the PIL, the High Court relied on a Supreme Court judgment which held the designation of “Deputy Chief Minister” is merely descriptive and does not confer any additional constitutional powers or authority beyond those available to a member of the Council of Ministers.
The petitioners, K. Patra and Srinivas Mohanty, had challenged the appointment of the two Deputy Chief Ministers, arguing the designation placed them on a higher pedestal than other members of the Council of Ministers. They contended granting special privileges in protocol, precedence and powers was contrary to Articles 163 and 164 of the Constitution of India.
The HC referred to the Supreme Court’s ruling in K.M. Sharma vs Shri Devi Lal and Others, which held that a Deputy Chief Minister is essentially a member of the Council of Ministers and that the designation does not confer any additional powers equivalent to those of the Chief Minister.
The observed that merely describing a person as a “Deputy Chief Minister” does not violate constitutional provisions, provided the substantive constitutional requirements are duly followed.
The court also observed that PILs of such nature should be dealt with great caution and circumspection to curb any oblique motive, personal gain, private malice, vested interest and publicity-seeking.
