Office of profit: HC restores legislature membership of 20 AAP MLAs, AAP says it is victory of truth
Friday, 23 March 2018 (16:13 IST)
New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Friday passed an order for the restoration of membership of the legislature of 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs disqualified by Election Commission.The MLAs were arraigned for holding offices of profit.'Truth has won. The representatives elected by the people of Delhi were dismissed in a wrong manner. Delhi HC has given justice to the people. It’s a big victory for the people of Delhi. Congratulations,' Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.
On January 21, 20 MLAs of the party were disqualified in the office-of-profit case after President Ram Nath Kovind approved the EC’s recommendation in this regard.
The poll panel had contended that the MLAs had occupied the post of Parliamentary Secretaries between March 13, 2015 and September 8, 2016 so were holding the office of profit and were liable to be disqualified as legislators.The EC will now re-hear the office of profit case.
Welcoming the judgement, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that the impugned EC decision was unconstitutional and unjustified.Party leader Ashutosh said that the EC’s decision to disqualify AAP MLAs was not only constitutionally invalid but also exposed how low the authority could stoop.Another AAP stalwart, Raghav Chadha said, 'Satyamev Jayate.'Chandini Chowk MLA, Alka Lamba, observed, 'Natural justice was not done by the EC. The HC judgement is a lesson for the EC.'.(UNI)
