A dozen legislators of the ruling Congress party in Himachal Pradesh lost their jobs Thursday following a court judgement quashing their appointment as chief parliamentary secretaries or parliamentary secretaries.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court delivered the judgement after a petition challenged the appointment of these legislators in April.

According to an amendment of the constitution, the strength of the ministers and other members cannot exceed more than 15 percent of the entire strength of the house.

"A division bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court today (Thursday) quashed the appointment of eight parliamentary secretaries and four parliamentary secretaries appointed by state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on April 18," said Desh Bandu Sood, the lawyer who filed the litigation.

"The judges ruled that the chief minister has neither any power to appoint parliamentary secretaries nor any power to administer any oath of secrecy to them. So the appointment of these 12 people is illegal, unconstitutional and liable to be quashed," said Sood.

The judgement is likely to have a countrywide impact as such appointments have taken place in states like Punjab and Sikkim also.

"The state exchequer will save millions each month after this decision as their (the parliamentary secretaries') expenses matched that of deputy ministers," said Sood.

Virbhadra Singh wasn't available for comment as he was in Delhi.