The State BJP has expressed cautious disappointment over the Uttarakhand Governor’s role in the much talked-about office of profit issue, where Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat had been heading three corporations.
According to Article 191 of the Constitution, if an MlA holds an office of profit, his or her membership of the legislative Assembly will stand cancelled.
More importantly, according to Article 192, the Governor — in consultation with the Election Commission — can take a decision on cancelling membership of any MlA if he or she holds an office of profit, noted leader of Opposition in Assembly Ajay Bhatt.
During his Kumaon visit on Thursday, he said, “We also took up the office of profit matter with the Governor on April 2. But we are not aware what action he has taken so far. We are not challenging his role in this case, but it is a serious matter.”
“Now, in larger public interest, we have taken up the issue with the High Court of Uttarakhand, challenging the Ordinance that the State Government had brought to save its Minister,” Bhatt added.
“How can an accused be pardoned after he or she commits a crimeIJ The way the State Government brought an ordinance to save its Minister is a clear violation of the Constitution. According to rules, membership of the Agriculture Minister stands cancelled after holding charges of three important departments,” he insisted.
“Even Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP MP Krishna Murari Moghe sought re-election after resigning from their respective posts on the same office of profit issue,” Bhatt pointed out.
He said the Agriculture Minister not only held offices of profit for long, but also availing benefits of heading these important corporations.
The important point is that the Government’s decision to relieve Rawat from theses offices of profit by bringing an ordinance only proves the fact that he was holding office of profit. But the Constitution is above all, he stated.
Now the BJP is awaiting the high court verdict on this issue and Bhatt expressed hoped it would prove to be a landmark decision.