Friday, March 10 2006 18:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Election Commission today(Mar 10,2006) issued notice to Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh on a petition seeking his disqualification from the Rajya Sabha on the ground that he held an office of profit.

The Commission, which has only recently recommended disqualification of his party colleague Jaya Bachchan on similiar grounds, has asked him to file a written reply on or before March 31, EC sources said.

The Commission's communication to Singh comes on a petition seeking his disqualification on the ground that as Chairperson of Uttar Pradesh Development Council, he held an office of profit and attracted disqualification.

Reacting to the development, Amar Singh said his lawyer would reply to the Commission's notice.

He said he respected Constitutional institutions like the Election Commission.

Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon told reporters as per the Constitutional provisions, under Article 102 and 103, a petition (against Singh) has been made to the President, who has referred it to the Commission for its opinion.

"The Commission has to act according to the provisions of the Constitution. The Commission has to follow the legal and Constitutional provisions and send the necessary opinion to the President and that process has started," he said.

Only yesterday, Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed a Bill seeking to take away 79 posts, including those held by Bachchan and Singh, from the list of office of profit.