Meeting with Devendra Fadnavis mere courtesy call by Fadnavis: Pratapsingh Rane to Bombay High Court

Former Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane has stated in his affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court that his meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader of opposition in Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis was the latter's courtesy call [Aires Rodrigues v. The State of Goa & Ors]..Rane's statement came in the affidavit filed in response to the plea challenging the constitutional validity of a State notification conferring on him lifetime cabinet status with all consequential benefits..The plea filed by Advocate Aires Rodrigues mentioned that in September 2021, Fadnavis met with Rane to work out ways to exclude the latter from the ensuing polls by extending benefits to him, which Rane denied.The Bench of Justices MS Sonak and RN Laddha had issued notice in Rodrigues' plea on April 26, 2022. .Rane stated that the meeting was nothing more than a courtesy call by Fadnavis when he visited Goa, and that Rodrigues was trying to cast false aspersions against him to create unnecessary doubts.Rodrigues' petition falsely suggested that the notification under challenge was on the basis of some alleged 'quid pro quo', Rane's affidavit stated.Rane stated that the honour of lifetime cabinet status had been bestowed upon him by the State of Goa on its own discretion and for his contributions to the State legislature for over 50 years. The 83-year-old legislator informed the Court that he had decided to resign in light of his advanced age and take up social work to serve the people of Goa..The petition filed by Rodrigues submitted that the Constitution of India does not provide for conferring cabinet rank status on any individual other than a current minister in the government, who is duly sworn in.The petition further stated that the notification was illegal, without jurisdiction and void, and that there was no legal power for conferring such status. He thus prayed for quashing of the notification dated January 7, 2022. As interim relief, he sought a stay on the notification, emphasising that retaining Rane's status will cost the State a total of ₹90 lakh every year.The petition also sought directions to be issued to the State authorities to disclose under what provision of law Rane was conferred lifetime cabinet status..On his part, Rane stated that it is for the High Court to decide on the legality of the notification, and that he would accept whatever decision it makes..Rane had contested Goa Assembly Elections from the Poriem constituency for around 10 earlier elections, once as a Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party candidate, and later always from the Indian National Congress (INC). He was successful in all elections.The petition stated that for the elections held on February 14, 2022, Rane was nominated by the INC for an assembly seat and the nomination for this was publicly allowed on December 22, 2021. The BJP desired to nominate Rane's daughter-in-law for the Poriem seat. Since Rane was capable of toppling the BJP's cart, an alleged malafide strategy was adopted by BJP, the plea contended.They hurriedly resolved on January 6 to confer lifetime cabinet status/rank with all consequential benefits to those members of the legislative assembly, present and past, who have served for at least eight continuous terms as MLA in the Goa Assembly, the plea stated. A notification to this effect was subsequently issued and published on January 7, 2022.Rane thereafter announced his retirement from politics just a few days before the last date of filing nominations, making it impossible to find a suitable replacement at short notice, the plea pointed out.Meanwhile, after Rane resigned, his daughter-in-law won the elections from the Poriem constituency..The Under Secretary of State of Goa meanwhile stated in the affidavit that Rane had not been appointed as a Minister. The title was merely a mark of recognition and to honour him for his lifetime contribution.