The Hindu : New Delhi News : MLAs seek time to file replies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 24, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

MLAs seek time to file replies

Staff Reporter

Reason being forwarded is inability to gather `necessary documents'

NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding the passage of the "office of profit" legislation in the Delhi Assembly, the 18 Congress MLAs facing disqualification proceedings with the Election Commission of India have sought two months' time to file their replies citing inability to gather `necessary documents' as the reason.

The Commission had issued notices to the MLAs and given them time till May 22 to file their replies failing which unilateral proceedings would be initiated in the matter.

However, the jittery MLAs, who are still not sure if President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will give his consent to the legislation and if it will stand scrutiny of the courts, have decided to evolve a joint strategy on the issue. In their replies filed through their lawyers, the legislators have submitted that in order to file a proper reply they need to refer to certain documents. They submitted that such documents have to be collected from various departments and this process would take time. Stating that such documents were necessary for filing an effective written reply, the MLAs have submitted to the Commission that non-filing of the reply was neither intentional nor wilful but due to reasons stated in the submission.

The MLAs have also requested that they be granted personal hearing along with their lawyers in order to explain the case in the right perspective.

They have prayed that the EC grant them two months' time.The Commission is yet to respond to the same.

It is learnt that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit held a meeting of the affected MLAs at her residence on Sunday and sought legal advice on how to proceed in the matter.

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