New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for continuing the "colonial-era mindset" by appointing spouses of senior bureaucrats, such as district magistrates, to ex-officio positions in cooperative societies and similar bodies.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed concern over the practice, highlighting that the byelaws of several societies in the state still granted positions like the presidency to the wives of high-ranking officials, including district magistrates and chief secretaries.
The court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to amend the relevant provisions within the next two months. "Such practices are outdated and not in line with modern governance principles," the bench remarked.
The Supreme Court’s comments reflect growing scrutiny of practices that perpetuate outdated power structures, urging the state to adopt more progressive and transparent policies in line with contemporary governance standards.
