The Hindu : National : EC studying plea against Anbumani

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Thursday, Aug 03, 2006

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EC studying plea against Anbumani

J. Venkatesan

Decision soon on sending notice to Minister, petitioner

AIIMS president falls within ambit of `ex-officio' post Appointment made under AIIMS Act, hence it is not ex-officio post Post not included in Bill

New Delhi: The Election Commission is examining a petition, forwarded by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, seeking the disqualification of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss from Parliament for holding an "office of profit" as president of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here.

Sources say the matter is under consideration by the Commission. It will be decided shortly whether to issue notice to the petitioner, Omesh Saigal, IAS (retd.), and the Minister.

Under Section 3 of the Parliament Act, 1959, holding of certain offices of profit will not be a disqualification. Section 3 (f) says "the office of chairman or member of the syndicate, senate, executive committee, council or court of a university or any body connected with a university" will not attract disqualification.

One view, the sources say, is that the post of AIIMS president will fall within the ambit of `ex-officio' post held by the Health Minister. Another view is that as the Union Government has appointed Dr. Ramadoss under the provisions of the AIIMS Act, it cannot be construed as an `ex-officio' post.

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