Administrator
15 June 2026
The Supreme Court on June 15 issued notice on a writ petition challenging the re-appointment of Deepak Prakash as Bihar's Panchayati Raj Minister without getting elected as a member of the legislature.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana issued notice to the State of Bihar, Deepak Prakash, and the Election Commission of India on the petition filed by social activist Rakesh Kumar Singh.
The plea states that Prakash is not a member of either House of the State legislature and therefore can't take any post in the State Government's ministry. It has been stated that, as per Article 164(4) of the Constitution, a non-legislator can remain a minister for six consecutive months, during which he must secure the membership of the State legislature. This exception is a one-time opportunity and cannot be revived with the change of government.
As per the plea, Prakash was inducted as Minister on November 20, 2025, by the then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, though he was not a member of the legislative assembly. On April 15, 2026, the Nitish Kumar government fell, which led to the dissolution of the Council of Ministers. On May 7, 2026, after a gap of 22 days, Prakash was re-appointed by the new government headed by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on May 7.
The 6-month term to get re-elected, from the first appointment on November 20, 2025, expired on May 20, 2026.
The petition argues that the reappointment is a colourable exercise of constitutional power designed to indirectly extend the six-month constitutional grace period available to non-legislators.
