India, Feb. 12 -- The post of deputy chief minister may not be defined under the Constitution but there is no illegality in appointing senior leaders of the ruling party or a coalition of parties as deputy chief ministers, the Supreme Court observed on Monday, dismissing a public interest litigation that demanded the practice be struck down as being unconstitutional.

According to a bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, a deputy CM is a legislator and a minister, called as a deputy CM and therefore, no constitutional provisions are contravened by this practice.

"The appointment of deputy chief ministers is a practice followed in some states to give a little more importance to senior leaders in the party or coa...