The Hindu : National : President's suggestion on exemption for similar offices

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 04, 2006

National

National

President's suggestion on exemption for similar offices

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Amid the controversy over President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam returning the Office of Profit Bill, it is now understood that his suggestion for evolving "generic and comprehensive criteria," which can be applied across all States and Union Territories, does not mean that Parliament should legislate for the States.

Explaining the rationale behind the suggestion, sources close to the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Saturday that the idea was to have exemption for similar offices across all States and Union Territories.

As a majority of the posts, for which exemption was given, were held by MPs in the States, the criteria should be applied across all States clearly and transparently. For instance, the West Bengal Wakf Board chairman was one of the posts sought to be exempted. As there were Wakf Boards in every State, why should just one State get exemption? The chairman in every State/Union Territory should come under this category. Similarly, criteria should be adopted for other posts, the sources said.

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