EC to hear case against 21 MLAs of AAP today

The Election Commission will hold a personal hearing from Thursday for 21 AAP legislators, who have been made parliamentary secretaries and are facing the risk of disqualification from the Assembly, in the office of profit case.

The 21 AAP MLAs had sought a personal hearing before the poll body in their reply to a notice by the Election Commission in June. The petition for their disqualification was made by lawyer Prashant Patel. At the first hearing on Thursday, the commission may also decide on whether to hear all the MLAs together or individually.

Maintaining that there was no “pecuniary benefit” associated with the post, the MLAs, in their response to the commission, also said that parliamentary secretary is a “post” without any remuneration or power.

The AAP had appointed 21 parliamentary secretaries to assist the Delhi government ministers. Thereafter, the government sought an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly ( Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997.

Through the bill, which has been forwarded to the Centre by lieutenant- governor Najeeb Jung, the AAP wanted “retrospective” exemption for the parliamentary secretaries from disqualification provisions.

The EC, which is examining the issue, has taken “cognisance” of the President’s decision against signing the Delhi government’s bill to exclude the post of parliamentary secretary from the ambit office of profit.

With the President refusing assent to the bill early this month, the 21 ruling party MLAs at present have no legal backing for holding the post of parliamentary secretaries. Questions have been raised over their appointment by the Opposition.