Office-of-profit case: EC resumes hearing against 20 AAP MLAs

The Election Commission on Thursday resumed the hearing on allegations against 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, who have sought permission to cross-examine the Delhi government and State Assembly officials to prove that their appointment as parliamentary secretaries did not come under the office-of-profit category.

Next hearing

The election panel resumed the hearing following a Delhi High Court directive, setting aside their disqualification on office-of-profit charge on March 23. The next hearing has been posted for May 21.

On Thursday, the MLAs moved an application before the EC seeking cross-examination of Delhi Assembly Secretary and officials of the State government’s Law and Accounts Departments to ascertain if they had derived any profit from their post.

The legislators also wanted to cross-examine the complainant, Prashant Patel, who opposed the plea stating that the EC hearing only pertained to the office-of-profit charge and cross-examination could not be permitted.

Pursuant to the High Court order, the commission had earlier issued notices to the AAP MLAs informing them that an “oral hearing” on the allegations against them would be resumed on May 17.

The HC quashed the notification issued by President Ram Nath Kovind on the EC’s suggestion for disqualification of the MLAs, stating that the recommendation was vitiated because of the failure to give the legislators an oral hearing or opportunity to address their argument on merits.

The MLAs have been accused of holding offices of profit as they were appointed parliamentary secretaries in March 2015. In September 2016, the HC set aside the appointments as they were not made with the L-G’s approval.