EC notice to 27 AAP MLAs on plea over office of profit

NEWDELHI:The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to 27 MLAs of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party on a fresh petition seeking their disqualification for allegedly holding office of profit.

The petition filed in June, and forwarded to the EC by the President’sofficelastweek,hadsought cancellation of membership of 27 AAP MLAs over the office of profit issue. The 27 MLAs include seven legislators against whom the EC is already considering a similar plea for holding the office of parliamentary secretaries.

Among the MLAs who have been issued notices are Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, his deputy Rakhi Birla, former deputy speaker Bandana Kumari and estranged AAP MLA and Swaraj Abhiyan leader Pankaj Pushkar.

Sourcesinthecommissionsaid the MLAs have been asked to file their responses by November 11.

The petitioner has pointed out in his complaint that these MLAs hold posts of chairpersons of Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKSs) of different government hospitals in Delhi without sanctity of law.

AAP legislator Madan Lal, who also heads one of these committees, said, “The complaint doesn’t have substance as the Rogi Kalyan Samitis in Delhi are exempt from office of profit as per 2006 law. I haven’t received the notice yet, but will reply as mandated.” HTC