State Council of Ministers

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 163–Council of Ministers to aid and advise Governor
  • There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister as the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions except in so far as he is required to exercise his functions in his discretion.
  • Suppose any question arises whether a matter falls within the Governor’s discretion or not. In that case, the decision of the Governor shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion.
  • The advice tendered by Ministers to the Governor shall not be inquired into in any court.
• Article 164–Other Provisions as to Ministers
  • The Governor and the other Ministers shall appoint the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister.
  • In the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, there shall be a Minister in charge of tribal welfare who may in addition be in charge of the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and backward classes or any other work. The state of Bihar was excluded from this provision by the 94th Amendment Act of 2006.
  • The ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.
  • The council of ministers shall be collectively responsible to the State Legislative Assembly.
  • A minister who is not a member of the state legislature for any period of six consecutive months shall cease to be a minister.
  • The salaries and allowances of ministers shall be determined by the state legislature
• Article 166–Conduct of Business of the Government of a State
  • All executive action of the Government of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor.
  • Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the Governor shall be authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules to be made by the Governor.
  • Moreover, the validity of an order or instrument which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the Governor.
  • The Governor shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the government of the state, and for the allocation among ministers of the said business.
• Article 167–Duties of Chief Minister
  • To communicate to the Governor of the state all decisions of the council of ministers relating to the administration of the affairs of the state and proposals for legislation.
  • To furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the state and proposals for legislation as the governor may call for.
  • If the Governor so requires, to submit for the consideration of the council of ministers any matter on which a decision has been taken by a minister but which has not been considered by the council.

Appointment of Ministers

• The chief minister is appointed by the governor. The governor appoints the other ministers on the advice of the chief minister. This means that the governor can appoint only those persons as ministers who are recommended by the chief minister. 

Oath

• The governor administers to him the oaths of office and secrecy to the ministers.

Salaries

• The salaries and allowances of ministers are determined by the state legislature from time to time. 

Responsibilities

• Collective Responsibility
  • Article  164 – Council of ministers is collectively responsible to the legislative assembly of the state for all their acts of omission and commission.
  • They work as a team and swim or sink together.
  • When the Legislative Assembly passes a No – Confidence Motion against the council of ministers, all the ministers have to resign including those ministers who are from the legislative council.
  • The principle of collective responsibility implies that the cabinet decisions bind all cabinet ministers (and other ministers) even if they deferred in the cabinet meeting.
• Individual Responsibility
  • Article 164 – also contains the principle of individual responsibility.
  • The ministers hold office during the pleasure of the Governor.
  • However, the Governor can remove a minister only on the advice of the Chief Minister.