New Delhi: The Election Commission will hear on September 29 a petition, seeking disqualification of Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, on the ground that he was holding an "office of profit" as president of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The petition was forwarded by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to it for opinion.

Commission sources said that notices were sent to the complainant, Omesh Saigal, IAS (retd.) and to Dr. Ramadoss and both had filed their response and counter response putting forth their contentions.

Sources said that since the Commission was a quasi-judicial body, proper hearing should be given to both parties before giving its opinion to the President. The complainant and Dr. Ramadoss could make their representations through their lawyers and they could also give written submissions on various issues raised in the complaint.

While Mr. Saigal said that Dr. Ramadoss was holding an "office of profit" since the post of president of AIIMS carried allowances and other perquisites, the latter told the Commission that no disqualification was attracted by virtue of his holding the office of president of the AIIMS.

He asserted that he was covered by the provisions of Section 3 of the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act as he held the office of president of the AIIMS in his ex-officio capacity as Minister by virtue of a nomination by the Central Government under Section 4(e) of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences Act, 1956.

Dr. Ramadoss said he was not entitled to any allowance or other remuneration though he could draw travelling and daily allowances. Hence it could not be stated to be an "office of profit."

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