EC can decide on violation of offices of profit law: BJP

New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) The BJP today said the Election Commission was free to take a decision on pending complaints against the MLAs and MPs because the Parliament (Disqualification) Act 1959, popularly known as the office of profit legislation, was very much in force.

Asked if the EC could go ahead and decide on the pending complaints of violation of the office of profit law, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad, also a former Law Minister, said there was nothing that prevented the EC from giving its verdict.

Even if there were to be a dissent within the EC, the President was free to take an independent decision because the Cabinet had absolutely no role as for as the disqualification of MPs and MLAs was concerned.

"The President has referred the complaints to the EC and he can act on the EC's recommendation," Mr Prasad said. The Bill exempting certain posts from the ambit of office of profit was returned to Parliament for reconsideration.

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