Office of Profit case: Election Commission to decide fate of 21 AAP MLAs on July 14

The Election Commission, which is examining the issue of disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs on the office of profit issue, has fixed the hearing date on July 24. 

A petition has alleged that the legislators occupied offices of profit in violation of the Constitution. 

The Election Commission had taken 'cognisance' of the President's decision against signing a Delhi government bill to exclude the post of Parliamentary Secretary from the ambit of office of profit.

On March 13 last year, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had passed an order appointing the 21 party MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries.

Subsequently, the Delhi government had sought an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997.

Through the Bill, the AAP government wanted 'retrospective' exemption for the parliamentary secretaries from disqualification provisions. The Bill was forwarded by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to the Centre, which in turn was sent to the President with its comments.

However, the President did not give his assent to the Bill.

Stepping up its demand for disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries, Congress said not receiving salary alone did not shield them against provisions of 'office of profit' law.