Blow to AAP government as President rejects bill on office of profit

President Pranab Mukherjee has rejected the Delhi government's bill to exclude the post of Parliamentary Secretary from the office of profit, sources said on Monday.

"The president did not give assent to Delhi government's bill and sent it back to the Lt. Governor's office on Monday. This has been forwarded to the Law Secretary of the Delhi government," sources at the LG's office told IANS.

Mukherjee is on a three-nation six-day visit to Africa.

The rejection of the bill has put the fate of 21 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, who have been appointed to the posts of parliamentary secretary, in jeopardy.

 

These 21 legislators might lose their house membership.

The Delhi Government had sought an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997.

This Bill was aimed at exclusion of the post of Parliamentary Secretary from the office of profit.

Petitions had been filed with the President seeking disqualification of these MLAs on the ground that they occupied office of profit in violation of the Constitution.