Prez refuses assent to Delhi govt Bill on Par Secy
SHILLONG: The state government may land up in trouble on the pending issue of parliamentary secretaries if one goes by the stand of the President of India who has rejected the Delhi Government’s Bill on the appointment of parliamentary secretaries.
An agency report from Delhi said on Monday that President Pranab Mukherjee refused to give his assent to the Delhi Government’s Bill that seeks to exclude the post of parliamentary secretary from the office of profit though petitions were filed with the President seeking his intervention to disqualify 21 AAP MLAs who have been appointed as parliamentary secretaries on grounds that it is in violation of the Constitution as they are occupying the office of profit.
In Delhi, the Bill has to get the consent of the Lt-Governor and the President to become a law.
As far as Meghalaya is concerned, the state cabinet recently decided to delete section 5 from The Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous provisions) Act, 2005 which had equated the rank and status of parliamentary secretaries as that of a minister of state to escape from disqualification as a PIL in this regard is pending in the High Court of Meghalaya.
The Delhi Government had sought an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997. Through the Bill, the AAP government wanted “retrospective” exemption for the parliamentary secretaries from disqualification provisions.
The Bill was forwarded by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to the Centre, which in turn was sent to the President with its comments. After examining the issue, the President has not given his assent to the Bill, official sources said on Monday.
Later, the cabinet approved the Meghalaya Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances (and Miscellaneous provisions) Ordinance, 2016 to help the parliamentary secretaries.
The Ordinance was subsequently sent to the State Governor for approval and till date the Governor is yet to return it.
Sources said that the Governor had sought the opinion of the Advocate General before giving assent to the amended Ordinance.
Earlier, Independent legislator Lambok Mylliem, resigned as parliamentary secretary following the media reports regarding MLAs holding dual posts. Sources said that with the new development in Delhi, the Governor may go slow on giving assent to the Ordinance.