Lok Sabha Speaker denies holding any office-of-profit

New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today asserted that he was not holding any Office of Profit as chairman of the Shantiniketan Development Authority and questioned the wisdom of the Chief Election Commissioner in putting on the website his name among those guilty of the offence.

There is not even an iota of truth in the allegations against him which were politically motivated, Mr Chatterjee said, adding that the Election Commission should have first checked the facts.

The Speaker admitted that the post of the chairman of the SDA was statutory but it entailed no remunerations or any allowances.

Even the Supreme Court in its judgement has held that if a post was having any provision of any allowances or benefits it would be treated as an office-of-profit. But there was no such provision in the Shantiniketan post. It could be verified from the very first letter of appointment given to him, he said.

Asked why then he stayed away from the House, Mr Chatterjee said all he wanted a good debate on the issue and there should be no conflict. "I hope everybody appreciated it," he said.

The Speaker said he had all the respect for the institution of the Election Commission but he should have been intimated before his name was put on the website.

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