Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel refutes charges of holding office-of-profit

NEW DELHI: Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, who was issued a notice by the Election Commission for allegedly holding an office-of-profit, on Wednesday rejected the allegations, saying he had never been a member or chairperson of Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKSS).

Goel along with 26 other AAP MLAS had been issued a notice by the EC following a complaint which alleged that the MLAS held posts of chairpersons of RKSS of different government hospitals in Delhi without any sanctity of law and it sought their disqualification.

“My name figures at serial number 10 in the list given in original complaint and a further affidavit by the complainant.

“The fact, however, is that I have never been and nor am I at present either a chairperson or a member of any of the RKSS,” Goel said.

He said the Election Commission of India (ECI) notice was received by him on November 2 and he was asked to give his written statement by November 11.

Accusing the ECI of working under “pressure”, Goel claimed that it was quasi judicial body but the way it treated the “frivolous” complaint and allowed the complainant to file an affidavit was “against the constitutional dignity”.

“ECI is a constitutional body and I also hold a constitutional post. I’m undecided whether to reply to the notice served to me or not,” he said.

Goel also expressed anguish that the complaint by advocate Vibhor Anand was marked to ECI by the President without any inquiry.

“The President holds the highest constitutional post. I will not comment on it but he marked the complaint to the EC without any inquiry,” he said.

The complaint was submitted at the President’s office on June 21. After four months, the ECI, to which it was marked, asked the complainant in writing on August 24 to file an affidavit which he did two days later.