Plea to disqualify AIADMK RS member for office of profit

Chennai, Feb 18 (UNI) A city-based advocate of the Madras High Court today urged the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to disqualify AIADMK Rajya Sabha Member Jothi as he was 'holding an office of profit under the government.' In a memorandum to the CEC, a copy of which was made available to the press here, Mr R Amernath Rao (Khande) said he had also sent a similar memorandum signed by 40 advocates to the President of India, who had ''refered the matter to the Election Commission under Article 103 of the Constitution.'' He claimed the Election Commission of India, during the course of enquiry, had asked the Tamil Nadu Government Chief Secretary on August 18 last year for certain clarifications on the issue.

The official furnished a reply on October 20, 2006 stating that air tickets in J class were purchased by the Public Works Department (PWD) in favour of Mr Jothi on nine occassions for travel between Chennai and Delhi, costing a total of Rs 2,43,240.

He claimed Mr Jothi had certified thathe undertook the journey in connection with the Cauvery water dispute on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Government even though no order appointing him as counsel had been issued by the then state government.

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