EC sets date for hearing on office of profit

Itanagar, Nov 17 (UNI) The Election Commission today issued notice to 25 MLAs of Arunachal Pradesh to appear for hearings on the 'office of profit' issue on December 21 at New Delhi.

The decision was taken following a petition filed by the state BJP with the Governor, in March, seeking disqualification of the MLAs, including Chief Minister Gegong Apang, from the state assembly on the 'office of profit' issue, which was later forwarded to the EC in April.

The EC had asked both petitioners and respondents to appear before it in person or through a duly appointed lawyer on the date.

Meanwhile, the BJP welcomed the notice and said they had been opposing the Arunachal Pradesh Legislature Members (Prevention of Disqualifications) (Amendment) Bill, 2006 in the present form. It was passed in the Assembly on May 15, under which no office attracts disqualification rules in the state.

The BJP MLAs, opposing the bill, had also staged a walkout from the assembly demanding a judicious and fair amendment.

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