House to debate Bill on office of profit

Pranab to seek parties' views before the session begins on May 10.

Within days of aiming to ram through a redefinition of office of profit through an Ordinance, a suitably chastened Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government today said Parliament would be convened on May 10 to discuss a Bill on the issue.

The decision has been taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), Parliamentary Affairs Minister PR Dasmunshi told reporters.

The outcome of the discussion will be known well in advance as prior to the 14-day session, Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee will seek the opinion of all political parties.

"The CCPA has decided that Mukherjee will write to the parties represented in Parliament to provide inputs on the kind of legislation they prefer," Dasmunshi said.

The parties' views would form the basis of a proposed comprehensive Bill on the matter, he said. Asked whether an all-party meeting would be convened, Dasmunshi said since the BJP and the Samajwadi Party were not in favour of such an exercise, "we are not having any all-party meeting".

He said no time limit had been set to get the parties' views. "As soon as we get their opinion, it will enable us to understand their views," he added.

Asked if a draft Bill was ready, Dasmunshi replied in the negative. He said whether the Bill would be within the existing law would "depend on the views of the political parties".

Parliament was adjourned sine die on March 22 on the recommendations of the government, Dasmunshi said, adding, "Since we made an assurance while recommending sine die adjournment, we shall try to maintain the schedule of the second part of the session."

He said several legislative measures cleared by the Union Cabinet today would also be taken up in the session.

One of the most significant issues in the recent times with a bearing on several important political personalities, the office of profit debate is likely to raise a number of issues: What is an office of profit, how profit should be defined and whether power and authority linked to the post can cause a political figure to profit in some way.

Holding government posts in sectors of the economy where an individual and his family have significant interests is an issue the Opposition is interested in raising.

The Bill is unlikely to touch upon this issue, though. Opposition parties say there are several ministers whose family interests in businesses are related to the portfolios they hold.