New Delhi: In a bid to resolve the contentious issue of office of profit, the government has invited inputs from political parties on the nature of legislation to be enacted in the resumed Budget Session of Parliament from May 10.
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who has been deputed by the government to ascertain the views of political parties on the issue, has written to leaders of various political parties eliciting their views on the matter.
The inputs gathered will form the basis for a legislation to be enacted by Parliament to save the MPs facing disqualification from their membership on the ground of holding office of profit.
More than 45 MPs from different political parties have been accused of holding office of profit in the petitions sent to the President, who has since forwarded these to the Election Commission for its recommendation.
Besides, several MLAs in various states also face disqualification on this ground.
According to sources, the leaders of the parties have been asked whether they would favour an amendment to the existing Parliament (Prevention of Disqualificartion) Act 1959, or would like to a have a new law passed to exempt certain posts from the category of "office of profit".
The issue created a storm after actress Jaya Bachchan was disqualified as a Rajya Sabha MP on the ground of holding the post of chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council.
Parliament was adjourned sine die abruptly on March 22 amid vigorous protests from the Opposition who charged that the Congress-led UPA government wanted to bring an ordinance to save Congress president Sonia Gandhi from disqualification for holding office of profit as Chairperson of National Advisory Council.
Sonia subsequently resigned as an MP and as chairperson of the
NAC.
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