Chhattisgarh assembly adopts office of profit bill

Raipur, Nov 23 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh Assembly today passed the State Legislative Assembly Prevention of Disqualification (Amendment) Bill 2006 that provides for excluding 90 posts from the definition of ''office of profit'' so that elected representatives do not attract disqualification for holding these posts.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Legislative Affairs Minister Ajay Chandrakar said the original act was formulated in 1967 during undivided Madhya Pradesh so as to keep few posts out of the purview of ''office of profit''.

Later, there were several amendments to the Act. He said Parliament had recently passed a bill of a similar nature excluding certain posts from the ''office of profit'' and that too with retrospective effect from April four, 1959.

Mr Chandrakar said all the ruling and opposition party legislators, who were coming under the ambit of office of profit, would not attract disqualification as the Bill proposes to exclude 90 posts with retrospective effect from November 2000 -- since formation of Chhattisgarh.

Participating in the debate, Mr Bhupesh Baghel (Congress) said Chief Minister Raman Singh had claimed that he did not fall under the purview of office of profit but it appeared that the government was under pressure.

''But with the government introducing this bill, it seems that it's under pressure,'' he added.

He said the BJP had opposed the office of profit bill at the national level but its government itself had brought a similar legislation in the state.

''Even if the government wants it, it should be with prospective effect,'' he added.

Leader of Opposition in state assembly Mahendra Karma said the Bill threw up many questions about the credibility of politicians and it would send a wrong message among the masses.

The House later rejected the amendments proposed by Mr Karma and Mr Baghel (both Congress). As the opposition sought a division, the Bill was put for vote and the House adopted it by 35 votes as against four opposing it.

UNI JJ PS MSJ GC1936