Delhi’s deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has been cleared in an office of profit case by the Election Commission.
The Election watchdog has not found merit in a petition seeking disqualification of as a legislator for allegedly holding an office of profit.
In a recommendation sent to President Pranab Mukherjee recently, the Commission has said that Sisodia cannot be disqualified as an MLA for being Deputy Chief Minister.
The Commission said several states have posts of deputy chief minister and it cannot be construed as an office of profit.
"He cannot be disqualified on this ground. The recommendation has been sent to the President," a Commission functionary said.
To a question, he also pointed out that the President has "no discretion" on the issue and is "bound" by the recommendation of the poll watchdog.
Last year, a BJP leader, Vivek Garg, had approached the President with a petition seeking disqualification of Sisodia.
As per laid down procedure, the matter was referred to the Commission.
Garg wrote to Mukherjee and demanded that Sisodia’s membership of the Delhi assembly be cancelled as there was no provision for the post of deputy chief minister in the NCT of Delhi act. Sisodia’s appointment as deputy CM amounted to holding an office of profit, Garg had claimed.
The Commission is already hearing two separate cases related to office of profit concerning AAP MLAs. While the first case related to 21 MLAs is in the advanced stage, the other related to 27 legislators is in the preliminary stage. The EC’s decision on 21 MLAs is likely to be announced by May 15.
Article 102(1)(a) of the Constitution makes the holding of an office of profit by a member of Parliament or a legislative assembly or legislative council a ground for disqualification from the membership.
The disqualification is the result of breach of the theory of separation of powers between the executive and the legislature.
(With PTI inputs)
