The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Disqualification demand rejected

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Thursday, Jun 26, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Disqualification demand rejected

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Legislative Council Chairman B.K. Chandrashekar on Wednesday rejected the demand by the Opposition members in the Council to disqualify Bharatiya Janata Party MLCs “Mukhyamantri” Chandru and D.H. Shankaramurthy.

The Opposition members had stated that Mr. Chandru and Mr. Shankaramurthy were holding offices of profit as they had been appointed chairman of Kannada Development Authority and deputy chairman of the State Planning Board, respectively. This was in violation of the norms related to Office of Profit which would provide for disqualification of their House membership, the Opposition members had contended. They had urged Prof. Chandrashekar to disqualify the two BJP MLCs.

In his ruling on the issue, Prof. Chandrashekar noted that the State Government had amended legislation related to the Office of Profit in 2006 and removed certain posts from the ambit of these norms. In that amendment, the Government had said that the posts of the chiefs and deputy chiefs of any committee or society which has been formed under the Societies Act or constituted by the Government will not come under the jurisdiction of the Office of Profit norms, he pointed out.

The Opposition members, however, took exception to extending permanent invitation to Mr. Shankaramurthy to attend Cabinet meetings. However, Home Minister V.S. Acharya said the Government had extended such an invitation to Mr. Shankaramruthy only after getting clarification from the Union Government.

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