RS passes controversial Office of Profit bill

New Delhi, July 27: The controversial office of profit Bill which exempts 56 posts, including that of National Advisory Council (NAC) chairperson, from being deemed offices of profit, was again passed by the Rajya Sabha today after President APJ Abdul Kalam had returned it to Parliament for reconsideration.

The Bill was cleared in the form, in which it had been passed earlier by Parliament.

The Opposition BJP asked for division in which 98 votes were cast in favour of the Bill and 49 against.

Earlier, all amendments moved by BJP Members, including Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr Dinesh Trivedi of the Trinamool Congress were rejected.

The Bill, titled 'Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendement Bill 2006, was passed after four hours of heated discussion.

Earlier pased by Parliament in its last session, the Bill was sent to the President for his assent on May 25. But he sent it back with a message that it should be reconsidered for inclusion of a ''comprehensive and generic'' criteria.

''The criteria should be 'fair and reasonable' and applicable in a 'clear and transparent' manner across the states and Union Territories,'' he said.

The Bill, returned by the President for reconsideration, was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on July 25 under Article 111 of the Constitution.

The Office of Profit controversy had originatyed in mid-March with the disqualification of Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan on the ground of her holding an office of profit in heading the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Corporation, following which the Opposition targeted Congress president Sonia Gandhi over her heading the National Advisory Council (NAC).

The issue finally led to Ms Gandhi's resignation and later re-election to the Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency. Ms Gandhi had also resigned as NAC chairperson.

UNI

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