Sidhu in TV shows improper, but not unconstitutional: Experts

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 21

As Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu insists on continuing with his TV shows, constitutional experts on Tuesday said it was not unconstitutional or illegal, but certainly improper.

Noted constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap said, “It’s more a question of propriety that a question of law. There is not law banning a minister from taking up such assignments. But once a politician becomes a minister, he does not go for such things. It has become a matter of convention now.”

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Kashyap – a former Lok Sabha secretary general — gave the example of advocates who quit legal practice after becoming ministers in the Central government.

Another former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary said, “There is no express provision of law that debars a minister from featuring in a TV programme or any other similar thing. But it’s certainly undesirable and improper.”

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Both Kashyap and Achary emphasised that if a minister appears in TV shows he must ensure that there was no conflict of interest involved. They also raised the issue of practicability as the dual role could come in the way of discharge of his functions as a minister.

The entertainment industry comes under the Tourism and Culture Ministry while Sidhu is Punjab’s Local Bodies, Tourism and Culture Minister.

Achary said, “We will have to see what kind of TV appearance or performance is it. But generally it would be seen as an improper conduct even if there was no illegality involved in it.”

Cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has said he wanted to continue with his entertainment shows on television even after becoming a minister. "What I do after 6 pm is no one's business," Sidhu is reported to have said.

Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has already sought Punjab Advocate General Atul Nanda’s legal advice on Sidhu’s TV shows.

In an interview with a TV channel, Amarinder Singh said he had cordial ties with Sidhu, but his association with the entertainment industry would have to be looked into as he was a minister now.

Sidhu – who had remained Amritsar MP when he was in BJP -- had told the media on Monday that he would continue to appear in the entertainment show, but would ensure it did not create any hindrance to his work as minister.