EC issue notice to 27 AAP MLAs

The Election Commission (EC) has issued notices to Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and 26 other AAP MLAs asking them why their Assembly membership should not be quashed for enjoying an office of profit while heading patient welfare committees of local government hospitals. 

The 27 legislators, facing charges of enjoying benefits as heads of Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS), have been asked to respond by November 11. 

Many of these AAP legislators are reportedly using rooms on hospital premises as their offices. They seem to be on a sticky wicket over the complaint file by Delhi-based law student Vibhor Anand before President Pranab Mukherjee and plea to disqualify them from the



Assembly. Seven out of the 27 MLAs are facing separate proceedings in the EC over holding office of profit while serving as parliamentary secretaries attached to cabinet ministers.

The complaint against 21 parliamentary secretaries was filed by advocate petitioner Prashant Patel and the EC has already finished its final hearing on the matter.Anand raised the issue of hospital committees against the 27 legislators in June. The President referred the matter to the EC in October.

He has questioned the sanctity of the order which granted the status of “chairperson” of patient welfare committees granted to the 27 legislators. Some AAP legislators are using rooms on hospital premises.