Pranab Mukherjee refuses assent to Delhi govt bill

In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, President Pranab Mukherjee has refused his assent to a bill that aims to protect 21 party legislators who were appointed as parliamentary secretaries from the prospect of disqualification.

Through the bill, the Delhi government had sought an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997. The bill, passed in June last year by the state assembly, aims to exclude the post of parliamentary secretary from the office of profit and exempt the post from disqualification provisions. The bill was forwarded by lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung to the centre, which in turn was sent to the President with its comments.

The President’s refusal to approve it might now lead to their disqualification. However, even in such a situation, AAP will continue to have a majority in the 70-member Delhi assembly as party has 67 legislators.

A letter from the President’s office declining his assent was received by the office of lt governor Jung on Monday. A copy of the letter has been sent to the Delhi government.

“We received a copy from the President’s office today withholding assent to the bill. It has been sent to the law department of the Delhi government,” said an official who did not want to be named.

The bill was passed by the Delhi assembly after questions were raised over the legality of the appointment. The bill was also intended to provide security cover for those legislators appointed as parliamentary secretaries.

“There will be no effect of this bill being withheld on assembly membership of our 21 MLAs,” Raghav Chadha, AAP spokesperson told reporters.

The government had in March last year appointed 21 of its MLAs as parliamentary secretaries in various ministries to speed up public work. The move was criticized by members of the opposition, who called it unconstitutional.

At the time of their appointment, the government had said that parliamentary secretaries will not receive any remuneration or perks from the government. But later on, they were allowed use of government transport for official purposes and space in minister’s office.

“The AAP won’t be affected in terms of its majority but why the need to appoint so many secretaries? President is correct in declaring these positions as office of profit. It is a waste of the taxpayers’ money,” said Manisha Priyam, a New Delhi-based political analyst.

PTI contributed to this story.