EC's notice to former Himachal CPSs and PSs

Shimla, Feb 22 (UNI) The Election Commission (EC) has served notices on eight former Himachal Pradesh Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs) and four Parliamentary Secretaries (PSs) for holding the office of profit, former chief minister P K Dhumal said today.

The notices were issued on a memorandum submitted by chief whip of the BJP legislative party, Ravinder Ravi, to State Governor V S Kokje, seeking their disqualification from the Vidhan Sabha under Article 192 (2) of the Constitution.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Dhumal said the EC has asked the 12 members to reply to the notice on or before March 16 along with all the relevant documents in reply to the issues raised in the memorandum, failing which it would be presumed that they had nothing to say in the matter.

Mr Ravi had submitted the memorandum to the Governor, seeking disqualification of the members under Article 192 (1) after the High Court held their appointments void abinitio on August 18 last year.

The Governor forwarded the copies of the memorandum to the members and asked them to send their replies by November 30.

The former CPSs and PSs sought more time for giving their replies and the date was extended to January 15, this year.

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