Another complaint against 27 AAP MLAs over office of profit

NEW DELHI: A fresh complaint was filed with the Election Commission against 27 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs over office-of-profit charges on Monday.

NEW DELHI: A fresh complaint was filed with the Election Commission against 27 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs over office-of-profit charges on Monday.

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This complaint is different from the one against 21 MLAs filed last year after they were appointed as parliamentary secretaries to six ministers of the Arvind Kejriwal government.

The latest complaint has been filed by a law student, Vibhor An and, against Somnath Bharti, Alka Lamba, Rakhi Birla, Ram Niwas Goel and others. He alleged the MLAs are all chairpersons of Rogi Kalyan Samitis (patient welfare panels) in various government hospitals and hold offices of influence.

Calling the allegations frivolous, a Delhi government spokesperson said the Samitis, with MLAs as chairpersons, were first set up in Delhi as per a 2009 cabinet decision of the Sheila Dikshit government under the central government’s health policy. The new appointees have only replaced the previous holders of the posts, he said.

“For something to count as an office of profit there has to be clear pecuniary benefit. An honorary post does not constitute office of profit,” he said.

The complainant, however, argues that even if the post does not carry any monetary benefit, it gives the MLAs influence.

According to the complaint, the appointment of the MLAs “amounts to holding office of profit because in the capacity of chairperson, these 27 legislators are in position of interfering in day-to-day administration of these hospitals.” Eight of the 27 MLAs are also parliamentary secretaries. The complaint says that only the minister in-charge, local MP, president of the zila panchayat or hospital-in-charge can be appointed to the post of chairperson.