Office of profit: Disqualification of Lapang
SHILLONG: Armed with the letter of Election Commission to approach the Meghalaya Governor, UDP on Friday petitioned the Governor demanding disqualification of Nongpoh legislator DD Lapang, who , according to the party is holding the office of profit as Chief Adviser to the Government.
On October 29 that UDP youth wing had petitioned the Election Commission to disqualify Lapang for holing the office of profit as the Chief Adviser to Government.
However, the reply received by the UDP youth wing general secretary Hamlet Dohling on Friday from under secretary of Election Commission N T Bhutia said that the” jurisdiction of the Commission to inquire into question of disqualification of a sitting MLA arises only on reference made to the Commission for its opinion by the Governor of the concerned state under Article 192 (2) of the Constitution”.While referring to Article 191 (1) and 192 of the Constitution of India, the Election Commission also said that when it comes to any question relating to disqualification of the sitting member of the Assembly under any of the clauses of Article 191(1) ,the matter has to be raised before the Governor.
Accordingly, the UDP on Friday sent a fresh complaint to the Governor enclosing the copy of the letter of Election Committee for necessary action.
“We request your good office to examine the matter, which is of importance, following the recent PIL taken up by the Meghalaya High Court against representatives holding dual post”, Dohling said in the letter addressed to the Governor.