The Election Commission will, from July 14, hold a hearing for the 21 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs in Delhi Assembly who are facing the allegation of office-of-profit as they were appointed as parliamentary secretaries to Ministers.
In their response to the notice from the Commission, the MLAs had last month sought a personal hearing. On a petition by Delhi-based lawyer Prashant Patel seeking their disqualification, the Commission issued notices to the legislators in March. The MLAs, in their reply, said the post was without any remuneration or power.
After their appointment as parliamentary secretaries, the Delhi government had moved a Bill to amend the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act. The Bill sought retrospective exemption for the parliamentary secretaries from provisions of disqualification.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, earlier this month, President Pranab Mukherjee refused to give his assent.