New Delhi, March 10
In spite of Samajwadi Party Government in Uttar Pradesh passing a legislation providing protection to its various legislators against disqualification under “office of profit” law for their holding important public offices, party Rajya Sabha MP and noted actor Jaya Bachchan today moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission (EC) recommendation to the President for her disqualification from the House.

Jaya Bachchan moved an application as part of an earlier identical case of JMM leader and Union Minister Shibu Soren in the Supreme Court Registry, seeking “correct” definition of the “office of profit”, both under the Central and state governments.

Claiming that she was not getting any remuneration as Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Corporation (UPFDC), which has been cited as the office of profit for her disqualification by the EC, she has sought laying down clear definition in this regard to remove the ambiguity in the law as to which of the offices under the Central and state governments should be deemed to be the “office of profit”.

She said prior to her election to the Rajya Sabha on an SP ticket in June 14, 2004, she had written to Parliamentary Joint Committee on office of profit, seeking clarification whether her holding the post of Chairperson of UPFDC was covered under Article 102(1)(a) of the Constitution, defining the office of profit and Parliament’s power to lay down law against disqualification.

But, till date she had not received any reply from the Parliamentary panel, the petition said, adding that keeping this in mind, she had resigned from the post before her election and assumed its charge after being elected.