Office of Profit Controversy in Assam

Is it only a decorum or anything else of the Indian constitution when a people’s representative break down its rules and regulations? Surprisingly it happens in Assam.Two influential ministers of government of Assam hold two offices of profit disobeying the constitutional restriction. Article 192 of the constitution describes that anyone who holds an office for profit motive cannot be a people’s representative including the State or UT’s governor.

But in Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Gautam Bora, Education minister hold two offices of profit . Sarma and Bora are holding Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Assam Co-operative Apex Bank. One Dilip Kumar Mahajan had sent a letter to the President of India demanding that the ministers have been violating the constitutional law. .Earlier Mahajan brought the matter into notice of the Governor of Assam and the Election Commission of India.

On January 2,2010 he have submitted an application to the governor proposing a step in this regard. But the governor -office delayed the matter for which he has to submit a reminder. After then only, the governor office sent a letter to the State Judicial Department dated 12-04-2010 asking whether the posts of Chairman and vice-Chairman of the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank came under the purview of Office of Profit. But the State Judicial Department kept the matter without replying till July 7 pushing the governor office to send a reminder. Then the Judicial Department sent a letter to the Department of Co-operation lackadaisically. Such delays by the aforesaid government compelled Mahajan to go near the President of India. Mentionable that the Chairman of Assam Co-operative Apex Bank gets monthly honorarium of Rs.1500 besides other allowances.