Nagaland Assembly convenes emergent session

Kohima, Apr 01 (UNI) In the wake of the nationwide controversy over the issue of ''Office of Profit'' and a clamour in the state, the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly has summoned an ''emergent session'' of Nagaland Assembly on April four.

The Nagaland cabinet, in an emergency meeting on Thursday last had decided for the emergent session for a threadbare discussions among the legislators on the issue of ''Office of Profit''. The Advocate General of Nagaland is likely to deliberate with the members of the House on ''the Nagaland state legislative members' (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964, during the one-day session.

In the cabinet meeting, the members were briefed about the Act as it was believed that the act protects the state legislators holding offices from its purview.

The cabinet also decided to send a copy of the Nagaland state legislative members' (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964, to the Election Commission of India for reference.

The cabinet also revoked its earlier decision of March 08 last to include the office of the leader of the opposition list under the said Act on the ground that its decision was taken without consulting the Advocate General of the state.

The issue ''Office of Profit'' was initiated by the opposition Congress through a petition to the Nagaland Governor demanding disqualification of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on the ground that he 'held the Office of Profit as chairman of the state sports council and the Nagaland Bamboo Mission'.

In a counter, the Nagaland Peoples' Front (NPF), a partner of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), demanded disqualification of Leader of Opposition I. Imkong on the ground that the post of the leader of opposition was not exempted from Office of Profit under the Nagaland state legislative members' (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964.

UNI AS KK SS1145