EC reserves order over technical point for disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Monday reserved its order over a technical point related to a petition seeking the disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs over the Office of Profit issue.

After an over two-hour hearing at the commission, petitioner Prashant Patel said: “The EC may give its order to us and the parliamentary secretaries in a few days”.

Sources said there might a few more hearings in the coming days before the matter related to disqualification is decided by the commission.

During the hearing on Monday, all the legislators’ defence was heard by the commission. Many MLAs reiterated their stand that they did not enjoy any pecuniary benefit while holding the post of parliamentary secretaries.

Lawyer Shubranshu Padhi, who appeared for Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh and Sadar Bazar MLA Som Dutt, said: “The EC heard our views on the issue. Only after deciding this matter should the main matter related to the disqualification be taken up”.

Patel opposed some parliamentary secretaries’ alleged attempt to drag the hearing.

“I pleaded that on every date the parliamentary secretaries come up with some application in a bid to delay the matters,” he said.

The 21 AAP legislators face disqualification for holding the post of parliamentary secretaries

The AAP government had appointed 21 parliamentary secretaries to assist its ministers. Subsequently, the city government sought to amend the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997, so as to exempt parliamentary secretaries from disqualification provisions in 'office of profit' cases.

However, the President refused to give his assent to the Bill.