The Hindu : Front Page : Office of profit issue: more posts may be exempted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

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Office of profit issue: more posts may be exempted

P. Sunderarajan

Dasmunsi: no amendment to Constitution, only changes in disqualification law

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday decided to change the law to exempt more posts, held by members of Parliament, from attracting disqualification on the issue of office of profit. A Bill will be brought before Parliament in the session beginning on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters here, Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Cabinet spokesperson Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said "the Cabinet decided not to bring in any amendment to the Constitution and instead to amend the Prevention of Disqualification of MPs Act 1959 to exempt more posts in consultation with other parties."

The meeting authorised Defence Minister and Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee to consult all political parties on which additional offices should be exempted. The Law Ministry would then bring in the Bill. Asked about the move already initiated by the Government to get the opinion of the parties, he said the decision on which additional posts should be exempted would be taken after considering the views already expressed and the inputs coming in during the consultations over the next two days.

On Wednesday the Government would inform the Business Advisory committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha of the decision to bring in the Bill. The BAC, meeting after the House is adjourned for the day, would decide when the Bill would be introduced.

Asked whether Chairperson of the National Advisory Council would be among the posts to be exempted, Mr. Dasmunsi said, "all decisions would be taken after consultations with the parties."

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who till recently was NAC Chairperson, resigned the post following allegations that it was an office of profit.

The office of profit issue became a major controversy in March after the disqualification of Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan and as the Opposition sought action against Ms. Gandhi also. Consequently, the first phase of the budget session was abruptly adjourned sine die on March 22 and the next day, Ms. Gandhi resigned from the Lok Sabha as also as NAC Chairperson.

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