110 Lok Sabha members did not disclose assets: RTI reply

Even after eight months of their election to the Lok Sabha, 110 MPs have not declared their assets as against the mandatory provision to do so in 90 days which may amount to breach of privilege of the House.

The Lok Sabha secretariat in an RTI reply has given the list of MPs who did not disclose their assets that includes former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, Kalyan Singh, Shibu Soren and Navjot Singh Sindu.

The list contains the names of 44 MPs from Congress, 11 from BJP, nine from JD(U), eight from BSP, seven from SP, three from Trinamool Congress and two from Telugu Desam Party among others.

The secretariat in a reply to an RTI query filed by Hissar-based social activist Ramesh Verma said repeated reminders have been sent to the MPs to declare their assets and liabilities, however, "no action has as such been contemplated against members from whom information is awaited".

On the question of provision for action in case of failure to furnish details of assets and liabilities within 90 days of being elected, the secretariat said, "Kind attention is invited to provision of section 75(A)(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 which provides that the speaker, Lok Sabha may direct that any wilful contravention of the members of Lok Sabha (Declaration of Assets and Liabilities) Rules, 2004 by an elected members may be dealt
with the same manner as a breach of privilege of the House."