Panaji (Goa): In a bid to exempt MLAs from disqualification for holding office of profit, the state cabinet in a major decision on Wednesday approved a proposal to widen the list of chairmen and head of other government bodies to be added to the Goa Members of the Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 2005.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar led cabinet meeting approved a proposal to add more offices in the schedule to Goa Members of the Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 2005. The persons holding offices that are included under the schedule of the Act, shall not be disqualified for being chosen as or for being a member of the Goa legislative assembly.

In other words, a candidate could attract disqualification if he/she occupied office of profit before filing nominations papers. An ordinance amending the Act will be shortly introduced.

Under the fresh amendment proposed the office of chairperson and director of Goa state waste management corporation (GSWMC), Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (IPFB), office of commissioner of NRI Affairs, the office of Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC), Ravindra Bhavans at Margao, Sakhali, Curchorem and Vasco.

If one recalls in 2005, BJP had faced a major blow after election of two of its elected MLAs -Rajendra Arlekar and Dayanand Mandrekar – was set aside by the High Court on grounds that the two held offices of profit. Subsequently, the decision was also upheld by the Apex Court.

Team TNV