Office of profit: Poll panel to hear 21 Delhi MLAs on July 14

The Election Commission has summoned the 21 Delhi legislators who were appointed parliamentary secretaries by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to clarify their position on July 14, an official said on Monday.

"The 21 MLAs would be heard on July 14 in connection with the office of profit (issue). The official communique has been conveyed to them," the Election Commission official said.

The Election Commission had sought the replies of the 21 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators regarding their appointment as parliamentary secretaries despite lack of constitutional provisions for the same.

The Delhi government had sought an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997.

This Bill was aimed at exclusion of the post of parliamentary secretary from the office of profit.

However, President Pranab Mukherjee rejected the Bill earlier this month, leaving the fate of 21 parliamentary secretaries hanging in balance.

The 21 legislators now face the risk of disqualification.

Several petitions had been filed with the President seeking disqualification of these MLAs on the ground that they occupied office of profit in violation of the Constitution.

--IANS

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