Mizoram govt amends removal of disqualification bill

Aizawl, May 4 (UNI) The state assembly in an emergency session today passed the Mizoram State Legislature Members (Removal of Disqualification) Bill 2006 to offset any effect of disqualification springing from the ''office of profit'' issue that has rocked the country.

Article 4 of the Mizoram Union Territory Legislature(Removal of Disqualification) Act 1975 with its 1896 amendment stated that ''The [Office of the Chief Executive Member, Executive Member,Chairman], Vice-Chairman or Member of any Autonomous District Councils and the President, Vice-President or member of any Village Council constituted in Mizoram under any existing law or Regulation'' are to be exempted from disqualification.

The main amendment dealt primarily with defining certain offices that are to be exempted such as opposition leader and advisers to the chief minister who have been designated with the rank of minister of state or deputy minister.

The amendment also inserted a new section that defined 'Authority' and compensatory allowance.

Since the passing of this amendment bill would mean protection for some of the ruling Mizo National Front(MNF) legislators which have come under the office of profit scanner, the opposition parties, especially the Congress, put up a spirited though fufile fight.

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