Actress-politician Jaya Bachchan Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the presidential order
disqualifying her Rajya Sabha membership on the ground that she was holding an office of
profit.
In her petition, the former Samajwadi MP said the complaint sent to President A.P.J. Kalam did not
assert that she had received any honorarium or remuneration.
In response to the notice from the Election Commission, she had specifically stated that the post of
chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Corporation and the conferment of cabinet status
was decorative only and not for monetary benefits.
She said the opinion of the poll panel to the president did not give any finding that she had received any
monetary gain from the said office.
Assailing the March 16 order and the Commission's opinion dated March 2, Jaya Bachchan said the
question that arose in this petition was whether in the absence of any finding by the Commission that
she had received any payment or remuneration from the office she held, the conclusion arrived at to
disqualify her was correct or not.
Contending that the consequences of her disqualification were harmful to her, she sought a declaration
that the March 16 order and the March 2 opinion were arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the
Constitution. She also sought a declaration that her disqualification was invalid.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006 15:56 IST