&quot;Why were the offices set up&quot;, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the disqualified Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, who claimed they had not received any monetary benefit, perks or remuneration including official vehicles, in their capacity as parliamentary secretaries.

A bench comprising of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar said if offices were set up, it means the MLAs were overlooking the administrative functions of the ministries where they were posted.

&quot;Why were offices set up for you (disqualified AAP MLAs)&nbsp;What were you getting from that. Normally if you are given an office means you will come and sit. You will also use the infrastructure. You are sitting there, (which) virtually means you are overlooking the affairs and functioning of the ministry,&quot; the bench orally observed.

The court&#39;s observation came during the hearing of the 20 AAP legislators&#39; pleas challenging their disqualification for holding offices of profit.

The arguments on behalf of the MLAs, which remained inconclusive, will resume on February 15.

During the nearly three-hour-long hearing of the legislators&#39; petitions, senior advocate KV Viswanathan, appearing for some of the MLAs, submitted that the Election Commission (EC) did not consider the aspect of what benefits they had derived while ruling that they held offices of profit.

The advocate said that no pecuniary benefit was received by the MLAs, while they were appointed as parliamentary secretaries.

Yesterday, the MLAs had claimed that they were held guilty of holding office of profit by the EC without giving them an opportunity to explain their stand.

&quot;Even a temporary government employee cannot be removed on the grounds of misconduct without holding a full-fledged inquiry. However, in the present case, the members of the legislative assembly were removed without holding a full-fledged inquiry and without giving them any opportunity to explain if they ever held any office of profit,&quot; the MLAs had submitted.

The high court had on January 24 refused to stay the Centre&#39;s notification disqualifying the MLAs, but restrained the EC from taking any &quot;precipitate measures&quot; such as announcing dates for by-polls to fill the vacancies. 
The EC had recommended the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs on January 19. The President had accepted the EC&#39;s opinion the very next day.

The 20 disqualified MLAs include Adarsh Shastri (Dwarka), Alka Lamba (Chandni Chowk), Anil Bajpai (Gandhi Nagar), Avtar Singh (Kalkaji), Kailash Gahlot (Najafgarh) -- who is also a minister -- Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Manoj Kumar (Kondli), Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli), Nitin Tyagi (Laxmi Nagar), Praveen Kumar (Jangpura).

The others are Rajesh Gupta (Wazirpur), Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri), Sanjeev Jha (Burari), Sarita Singh (Rohtas Nagar), Som Dutt (Sadar Bazar), Sharad Kumar (Narela), Shiv Charan Goel (Moti Nagar), Sukhbir Singh (Mundka), Vijendar Garg (Rajinder Nagar) and Jarnail Singh (Tilak Nagar).

The Delhi High Court had on September 8, 2016, set aside their appointment as parliamentary secretaries on the grounds that they were appointed without the concurrence of the Lieutenant Governor.

 
&nbsp;

A bench comprising of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar said if offices were set up, it means the MLAs were overlooking the administrative functions of the ministries where they were posted

"Why were the offices set up", the Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the disqualified Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, who claimed they had not received any monetary benefit, perks or remuneration including official vehicles, in their capacity as parliamentary secretaries. A bench comprising of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar said if offices were set up, it means the MLAs were overlooking the administrative functions of the ministries where they were posted. "Why were offices set up for you (disqualified AAP MLAs) What were you getting from that. Normally if you are given an office means you will come and sit. You will also use the infrastructure. You are sitting there, (which) virtually means you are overlooking the affairs and functioning of the ministry," the bench orally observed. The court's observation came during the hearing of the 20 AAP legislators' pleas challenging their disqualification for holding offices of profit. The arguments on behalf of the MLAs, which remained inconclusive, will resume on February 15. During the nearly three-hour-long hearing of the legislators' petitions, senior advocate KV Viswanathan, appearing for some of the MLAs, submitted that the Election Commission (EC) did not consider the aspect of what benefits they had derived while ruling that they held offices of profit. The advocate said that no pecuniary benefit was received by the MLAs, while they were appointed as parliamentary secretaries. Yesterday, the MLAs had claimed that they were held guilty of holding office of profit by the EC without giving them an opportunity to explain their stand. "Even a temporary government employee cannot be removed on the grounds of misconduct without holding a full-fledged inquiry. However, in the present case, the members of the legislative assembly were removed without holding a full-fledged inquiry and without giving them any opportunity to explain if they ever held any office of profit," the MLAs had submitted. The high court had on January 24 refused to stay the Centre's notification disqualifying the MLAs, but restrained the EC from taking any "precipitate measures" such as announcing dates for by-polls to fill the vacancies. The EC had recommended the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs on January 19. The President had accepted the EC's opinion the very next day. The 20 disqualified MLAs include Adarsh Shastri (Dwarka), Alka Lamba (Chandni Chowk), Anil Bajpai (Gandhi Nagar), Avtar Singh (Kalkaji), Kailash Gahlot (Najafgarh) -- who is also a minister -- Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Manoj Kumar (Kondli), Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli), Nitin Tyagi (Laxmi Nagar), Praveen Kumar (Jangpura). The others are Rajesh Gupta (Wazirpur), Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri), Sanjeev Jha (Burari), Sarita Singh (Rohtas Nagar), Som Dutt (Sadar Bazar), Sharad Kumar (Narela), Shiv Charan Goel (Moti Nagar), Sukhbir Singh (Mundka), Vijendar Garg (Rajinder Nagar) and Jarnail Singh (Tilak Nagar). The Delhi High Court had on September 8, 2016, set aside their appointment as parliamentary secretaries on the grounds that they were appointed without the concurrence of the Lieutenant Governor.

'Why were the offices set up': HC asks disqualified AAP MLAs

A bench in Delhi High Court will hear the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/20-aap-mlas-again-move-delhi-high-court-against-their-disqualification-30450" target="_blank"> plea filed by the disqualified AAP MLAs</a> on Wednesday.&nbsp;

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Delhi High Court Bench to hear the plea in AAP MLAs disqualification matter tomorrow.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955797311162007552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Twenty Members of Legislative Assembly of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today moved the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/disqualified-aap-mlas-withdraw-plea-in-hc-to-file-fresh-ones-30419">Delhi High Court again</a>&nbsp;against their disqualification for holding an office of profit by the Election Commission of India with the assent of the President.

In a huge setback to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, the Election Commission&#39;s recommendation for their disqualification was approved by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 21.

The Election Commission had recommended their disqualification for holding the post of parliamentary secretaries between March 2015 and September 2016, considered as holding an office of profit.

Twenty Members of Legislative Assembly of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today moved the Delhi High Court again against their disqualification for holding an office of profit by the Election Commission of India with the assent of the President

A bench in Delhi High Court will hear the plea filed by the disqualified AAP MLAs on Wednesday. Delhi High Court Bench to hear the plea in AAP MLAs disqualification matter tomorrow. — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018 × Twenty Members of Legislative Assembly of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today moved the Delhi High Court again against their disqualification for holding an office of profit by the Election Commission of India with the assent of the President. In a huge setback to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, the Election Commission's recommendation for their disqualification was approved by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 21. The Election Commission had recommended their disqualification for holding the post of parliamentary secretaries between March 2015 and September 2016, considered as holding an office of profit.

High Court to hear plea filed by disqualified AAP MLAs

The AAP MLAs, who have been disqualified as legislators for holding office of profit, today withdrew their pleas from Delhi High Court challenging the Election Commission&#39;s recommendation which got the assent of the President.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bypolls-imposed-on-delhi-will-hamper-development-work-kejriwal-30416">The 20 MLAs</a>, whose appointment as parliamentary secretaries was questioned, told the High Court that they would move fresh petitions against the taking away of their assembly seats as their pleas had become infructuous after President Ram Nath Kovind put a stamp of approval on the EC&#39;s recommendation.

Justice Rekha Palli allowed the MLAs to withdraw their plea, terming it &quot;dismissed as withdrawn&quot;.

Advocate Manish Vashisht, appearing for one of the AAP MLAs, told the court that a notification has been issued on January 20 by the government after the President accepted the poll panel&#39;s recommendation.

Taking the submission on record, the court continued with its January 19 interim order giving no protection to the aggrieved legislators.

In its opinion sent to the President, the EC had said that by being parliamentary secretaries, they held office of profit and were liable to be disqualified as MLAs of the Delhi Assembly.

The petition before the EC was filed by Prashant Patel against 21 MLAs who were appointed as parliamentary secretaries by the AAP government in Delhi.

The proceedings against Jarnail Singh were dropped after he resigned as the Rajouri Garden MLA to contest the Punjab Assembly polls.

The 20 MLAs include Adarsh Shastri (Dwarka), Alka Lamba (Chandni Chowk), Anil Bajpai (Gandhi Nagar), Avtar Singh (Kalkaji), Kailash Gahlot (Najafgarh) -- who is also a minister -- Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Manoj Kumar (Kondli), Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli), Nitin Tyagi (Laxmi Nagar), Praveen Kumar (Jangpura).

The others are Rajesh Gupta (Wazirpur), Rajesh Rishi Janakpuri), Sanjeev Jha (Burari), Sarita Singh (Rohtas Nagar), Som Dutt (Sadar Bazar), Sharad Kumar

(Narela), Shiv Charan Goel (Moti Nagar), Sukhbir Singh (Mundka), Vijendar Garg (Rajinder Nagar) and Jarnail Singh (Tilak Nagar).

In their pleas, the legislators had sought a stay on the proceedings before the EC as well as any communication to the President by the poll panel.

They had contended that no hearing on the merits of the case had taken place before the EC, nor was any opportunity granted to the petitioners before the poll panel. They had also claimed that no evidence was led by complainant Prashant Patel.&nbsp;

Justice Rekha Palli allowed the MLAs to withdraw their plea, terming it 'dismissed as withdrawn'.

The AAP MLAs, who have been disqualified as legislators for holding office of profit, today withdrew their pleas from Delhi High Court challenging the Election Commission's recommendation which got the assent of the President. The 20 MLAs, whose appointment as parliamentary secretaries was questioned, told the High Court that they would move fresh petitions against the taking away of their assembly seats as their pleas had become infructuous after President Ram Nath Kovind put a stamp of approval on the EC's recommendation. Justice Rekha Palli allowed the MLAs to withdraw their plea, terming it "dismissed as withdrawn". Advocate Manish Vashisht, appearing for one of the AAP MLAs, told the court that a notification has been issued on January 20 by the government after the President accepted the poll panel's recommendation. Taking the submission on record, the court continued with its January 19 interim order giving no protection to the aggrieved legislators. In its opinion sent to the President, the EC had said that by being parliamentary secretaries, they held office of profit and were liable to be disqualified as MLAs of the Delhi Assembly. The petition before the EC was filed by Prashant Patel against 21 MLAs who were appointed as parliamentary secretaries by the AAP government in Delhi. The proceedings against Jarnail Singh were dropped after he resigned as the Rajouri Garden MLA to contest the Punjab Assembly polls. The 20 MLAs include Adarsh Shastri (Dwarka), Alka Lamba (Chandni Chowk), Anil Bajpai (Gandhi Nagar), Avtar Singh (Kalkaji), Kailash Gahlot (Najafgarh) -- who is also a minister -- Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Manoj Kumar (Kondli), Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli), Nitin Tyagi (Laxmi Nagar), Praveen Kumar (Jangpura). The others are Rajesh Gupta (Wazirpur), Rajesh Rishi Janakpuri), Sanjeev Jha (Burari), Sarita Singh (Rohtas Nagar), Som Dutt (Sadar Bazar), Sharad Kumar (Narela), Shiv Charan Goel (Moti Nagar), Sukhbir Singh (Mundka), Vijendar Garg (Rajinder Nagar) and Jarnail Singh (Tilak Nagar). In their pleas, the legislators had sought a stay on the proceedings before the EC as well as any communication to the President by the poll panel. They had contended that no hearing on the merits of the case had taken place before the EC, nor was any opportunity granted to the petitioners before the poll panel. They had also claimed that no evidence was led by complainant Prashant Patel.

Disqualified AAP MLAs withdraw plea, will file fresh one

The Delhi Court is all set to hear an appeal filed by 20 disqualified lawmakers of the Aam Aadmi Party today.

The members were disqualified on January 21 after a recommendation by the Election Commission for holding office of profit.&nbsp;

Party chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal denied the accusation.

Kejriwal called President Kovind&#39;s order &quot;undemocratic&quot;.

In an open letter to Delhiites, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia described the disqualification as &quot;dirty politics&quot;.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to pass any interim order on staying the Centre&#39;s notification disqualifying 20 AAP MLAs.

Although a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bypolls-imposed-on-delhi-will-hamper-development-work-kejriwal-30416">bypoll</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bypolls-imposed-on-delhi-will-hamper-development-work-kejriwal-30416"> was &quot;imposed&quot;</a> on Delhi, the court had asked the Election Commission <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/office-of-profit-caseoffice-of-profit-case-delhi-hc-orders-ec-to-make-no-bypoll-announcement-until-29-january-30636">not to make any announcement regarding </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/office-of-profit-caseoffice-of-profit-case-delhi-hc-orders-ec-to-make-no-bypoll-announcement-until-29-january-30636">bypolls</a> in Delhi until January 29, the next date of hearing in the case.

The high court also noted that the elections cannot be held in Delhi until it reaches a conclusion in the case. 
&nbsp;

The members were disqualified on January 21 after a recommendation by the Election Commission

The Delhi Court is all set to hear an appeal filed by 20 disqualified lawmakers of the Aam Aadmi Party today. The members were disqualified on January 21 after a recommendation by the Election Commission for holding office of profit. Party chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal denied the accusation. Kejriwal called President Kovind's order "undemocratic". In an open letter to Delhiites, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia described the disqualification as "dirty politics". The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to pass any interim order on staying the Centre's notification disqualifying 20 AAP MLAs. Although a bypoll was "imposed" on Delhi, the court had asked the Election Commission not to make any announcement regarding bypolls in Delhi until January 29, the next date of hearing in the case. The high court also noted that the elections cannot be held in Delhi until it reaches a conclusion in the case.

Delhi High Court to hear disqualified AAP MLAs appeal today 

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'Why were the offices set up': HC asks disqualified AAP MLAs

High Court to hear plea filed by disqualified AAP MLAs

Disqualified AAP MLAs withdraw plea, will file fresh one

Delhi High Court to hear disqualified AAP MLAs appeal today