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Deepak Tiwari
Deepak Tiwari

Madhya Pradesh

EC demands details on 6 MP ministers, 112 MLAs on ‘office of profit’ issue

election-commission-of-india (File photo) Representational image

The Election Commission of India has sent notices to Madhya Pradesh government, seeking details about six ministers and 112 MLAs who are accused of holding office of profit.

In a complaint filed by Akshay Hunka, a social activist associated with Vichar Madhya Pradesh, it was alleged that Energy Minister Paras Jain and School Education Minister Deepak Joshi had violated Clause (a) of Article 102 of the Constitution which makes holding of an office of profit by an MLA or MP a ground for disqualification. The two ministers had held the position of commissioners of Scouts and Guides.

Last year, Alok Agrawal, state convenor of the AAP, and Hunka, the then state secretary of the party, had filed a complaint with the governor, alleging that 116 BJP MLAs have flouted norms by accepting positions in Jan Bhagidari Samitis (JBS) of government colleges. 

The governor, under Article 192(2) of the Constitution, asked the Election Commission for its opinion.

The EC clarified that the MLAs are guilty of holding office of profit and that the governor can dismiss them. Article 192 (2) states, “The governor shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and shall act according to such opinion’’.

Hunka said, “When I had filed the complaint against two ministers and 116 MLAs, it was very specific. Ministers were accused of holding position in Scouts and Guides while the MLAs took the positions of member in JBS of government colleges. After that, four of these MLAs became ministers.’’

These ministers—Horticulture Minister Surya Prakash Meena, Health Minister Rustam Singh, Higher Education Minister Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Om Prakash Dhurve— face the threat of losing their assembly membership due to the office of profit.

The Election Commission, in a letter dated June 12, has asked the government to furnish details of appointment of Joshi and Jain, including pays and perks received by them by way of being office bearers of Scouts and Guides. In another letter, the EC has sought details about 116 MLAs including those who became ministers.

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Topics : #Madhya Pradesh

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