Office-of-Profit: K'taka Assembly passes amendment

Bangalore, June 6 (UNI) The Karnataka Legislative Assembly today passed the Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2006, to provide immunity to Legislators and Panchayat heads holding certain Offices of Profit.

Tabling the Bill in the House, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basavaraj S Horatti said the amendment to the Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1956, would not only assist the government in avoiding unforeseen expenditure, but also in having the rich experience of peoples' representatives in managing the affairs of different boards and corporations.

He said the amendment was necessary in view of the developments that took place after the disqualification of Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan for being the Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Corporation.

The government consulted legal experts before bringing in the amendment and convening the two-day emergency session of the Legislature to pass it, he added.

The Bill excluded the offices of Council Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Assembly Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Ministers of State, Parliamentary Secretary, Leaders of the Opposition and Government Chief Whip in the Assembly and Council from the purview of the Office-of-Profit Bill.

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