#KejriKoDhakka : EC rejects Aam Aadmi Party MLAs plea to cross-examine petitioner in #OfficeOfProfit case

New Delhi, July 18: #KejriKoDhakka again! The Election Commission on Tuesday rejected a plea by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs to cross-examine a petitioner Prashant Patel, who sought their disqualification on the charge of holding office-of-profit.

The Election Commission, in its order, said that it does not find worthiness in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs plea to cross-examine petitioner Prashant Patel to prove that they were not holding any office-of-profit.

Notably, Prashant Patel who is an advocate had claimed that by being parliamentary secretaries, 21 AAP lawmakers held the office of profit and are liable for being disqualified as MLAs of the Delhi assembly. One of the MLAs had later resigned.

The Election Commission said that there is no need for cross-examination of petitioner Prashant Patel as he is not a witness in the present proceedings and the respondents (AAP MLAs) have failed to make out a case for calling any witness as pleaded in their applications.

However, the Election Commission was hearing the case related to disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs for holding office-of-profit by virtue of their appointment as parliamentary secretaries following a directive from Delhi High Court.

In January this year, President Ram Nath Kovind disqualified 20 MLAs of AAP after found guilty of holding an office of profit. The decision was taken by President Ram Nath Kovind on the recommendation of Election Commission.

The Delhi AAP lawmakers had moved the plea on May 16th this for cross-examination of Prashant Patel, and officials of the assembly and city government to prove that they were not holding any office-of-profit by being appointed as parliamentary secretaries. The Delhi court hearing on AAP’s plea quashed the decision of Election Commission.

Here is the complete list Of 20 AAP legislators who faced disqualification:

Kailash Gahlot: Najafgarh legislator Kailash Gahlot was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of law.

Naresh Yadav: Mehrauli legislator Naresh Yadav was appointed as parliamentary secretary to labour minister.

Som Dutt: Sadar Bazar legislator Som Dutt was appointed as parliamentary secretary to industries minister.

Praveen Kumar: Jangpura legislator Praveen Kumar was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the education minister.

Nitin Tyagi: Laxmi Nagar legislator Nitin Tyagi was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Women and Child and Social Welfare.

Adarsh Shastri: Dwarka legislator Adarsh Shastri was appointed as parliamentary secretary to information and technology minister.

Sanjeev Jha: Burari legislator Sanjeev Jha was appointed as parliamentary secretary to transport minister.

Jarnail Singh: Tilak Nagar legislator Jarnail Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the Development Minister.

Sukhvir Singh: Mundka legislator Sukhvir Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of languages and welfare of SC/ST/OBC.

Madan Lal: Kasturba Nagar legislator Madan Lal was appointed as parliamentary secretary to vigilance minister.

Sarita Singh: Rohtas Nagar legislator Sarita Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to employment minister.

Alka Lamba: Chandni Chowk legislator Alka Lamba was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of tourism.

Rajesh Rishi: Janakpuri legislator Rajesh Rishi was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the health minister.

Anil Kumar Bajpai: Gandhi Nagar legislator Anil Kumar Bajpai was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the health minister.

Manoj Kumar: Kondli legislator Manoj Kumar was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of food and civil supplies.

Avtar Singh: Kalkaji legislator Avtar Singh was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of gurdwara elections.

Vijendar Garg Vijay: Rajinder Nagar legislator Vijendar Garg Vijay was appointed as parliamentary secretary to minister of PWD.

Rajesh Gupta: Wazirpur legislator was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the health minister.

Sharad Kumar: Narela legislator was appointed as parliamentary secretary to revenue minister.

Shiv Charan Goel: Moti Nagar legislator Shiv Charan Goel was appointed was appointed as parliamentary secretary to finance minister.