Office of profit: Delhi high court asks election commission to examine scope of order

The Delhi high court asked the counsel for the election commission to take instructions as to whether its order disallowing cross-examination of the complainant in the office-of-profit case is confined to the particular application or whether it would be extended to other applications.

The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought to know from the election commission whether AAP MLAs can file further applications for cross examination of other witnesses or documents in the office-of-profit case.

The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought to know from the election commission whether AAP MLAs can file further applications for cross examination of other witnesses or documents in the office-of-profit case. (File Photo)

A bench of justice Sanjiv Khanna and justice Chandrashekhar asked the counsel for the EC to take instructions as to whether its order disallowing cross-examination of the complainant in the office-of-profit case is confined to the particular application or whether it would be extended to other applications, including the examination of other witnesses and summoning of documents by AAP MLAs.

“You are a constitutional authority. Your one order has far-reaching consequences. We respect the constitutional mandate given to you and we will not touch it. Your role is far more significant in the democracy,” the court observed.

The court’s query came while hearing pleas by AAP MLAs who had challenged the decision of the EC, rejecting their plea to cross examine a lawyer who had complained to the poll body against the MLAs alleging that they were holding offices of profit.