SHILLONG: Governor Ganga Prasad has sent a reminder to the Election Commission of India regarding disqualification of 17 Meghalaya parliamentary secretaries for holding the office of profit.
A Raj Bhavan source said on Friday that a reminder letter was sent to the Election Commission last week seeking response on the disqualification after the governor had referred the matter to the poll panel in November.
The action of the governor assumes significance with the Election Commission recommending disqualification of 20 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs on Friday for holding office of profit since they were appointed as parliamentary secretaries (See page 5).
The 17 MLAs who were holding the post of parliamentary secretaries are Comingone Ymbon, Samuel M Sangma, Limison D Sangma, Winnerson D Sangma, Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem, Cherak W Momin, Brigady Marak, Sengnam Marak, Rophul S Marak, Robinus Syngkon, Micheal T Sangma, Justine Dhkar, Ashahel D Shira, Stephanson Mukhim, Celestine Lyngdoh, Noverfield R Marak and Marthon Sangma.
On November 13, a representation was submitted by Madal Sumer of Jowai, West Jaintia Hills, under Article 192 (1) of the Constitution to the governor seeking disqualification of the MLAs.
As per the Constitution, the governor needs to refer the matter to the Election Commission to determine whether the legislators were holding office of profit.
Subsequently on November 16 last, the governor referred the matter to the poll panel.
The governor acted after the High Court of Meghalaya had on November 9 declared the appointment of parliamentary secretaries illegal based on a PIL filed by Sumer. On the same day, all the parliamentary secretaries resigned from the post.
The court had also left it to the governor to decide on the disqualification of the 17 MLAs for holding the post of parliamentary secretaries.
On December 23, during
a news briefing in Shillong, Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti had said the Election Commission was examining the matter related to the disqualification that the Meghalaya governor had referred to.
Joti had said the matter was being examined legally and the commission was also taking inputs from the state government.
