New Delhi: Even after eight months of their
election to the Lok Sabha, 110 MPs have not declared their
assets as against the mandatory provision to do so in 90 days
which may amount to breach of privilege of the House.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat in an RTI reply has given the
list of MPs who did not disclose their assets that includes
former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Prime
Minister H D Deve Gowda, Kalyan Singh, Shibu Soren and Navjot
Singh Sindu.
The list contains the names of 44 MPs from Congress, 11
from BJP, nine from JD(U), eight from BSP, seven from SP,
three from Trinamool Congress and two from Telugu Desam Party
among others.
The secretariat in a reply to an RTI query filed by
Hissar-based social activist Ramesh Verma said repeated
reminders have been sent to the MPs to declare their assets
and liabilities, however, "no action has as such been
contemplated against members from whom information is
awaited".
On the question of provision for action in case of
failure to furnish details of assets and liabilities within 90
days of being elected, the secretariat said, "Kind attention
is invited to provision of Section 75(A)(5) of the
Representation of the People Act, 1951 which provides that the
Speaker, Lok Sabha may direct that any wilful contravention of
the Members of Lok Sabha (Declaration of Assets and
Liabilities) Rules, 2004 by an elected members may be dealt
with the same manner as a breach of privilege of the House."
PTI
First Published: Sunday, February 14, 2010, 16:51