President Kovind declines plea to disqualify 27 AAP MLAs

In a major relief to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday dismissed a plea to disqualify 27 Member of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) of the party for allegedly holding office-of-profit as chairpersons of Rogi Kalyan Samitis in various hospitals in the national capital.

President Kovind passed the order based on the recommendations of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

In 2016, a complaint was filed by a lawyer in the ECI claiming that the 27 MLAs were liable for disqualification for occupying the office of the chairpersons in Rogi Kalyan Samitis. The complaint claimed that they are in a position to interfere in the day-to-day administration of these hospitals.

Rogi Kalyan Samitis were introduced in 2005 under the National Rural Health Mission as a forum to improve the functioning and service provision in public health facilities, increase participation and enhance accountability.

This plea was different from the office-of-profit allegation leveled against 21 party MLAs of the AAP over their appointment as parliamentary secretaries.