Development work will speed up now: AAP MLAs after HC relief in office-of-profit case

New Delhi, Mar 23: AAP MLAs on Friday claimed that Delhi government officers did not take their phone calls after the EC had disqualified them for holding office-of-profit, but asserted that the development work in their areas will speed up now after the Delhi high court provided them a breather.

The court set aside the election commission's decision to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs in the office-of-profit case and directed the poll body to hear the matter afresh.

Terming the EC's recommendation on their disqualification as "vitiated", the court said there was violation of natural justice and no oral hearing was given to the MLAs before disqualifying them as legislators of the Delhi assembly.

Out of the 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, about 10 legislators attended the House proceedings after the court's verdict. They said they had complete faith in the judiciary and added that had the poll panel given them a proper hearing, there would have been no need to approach the court.

Most of the MLAs alleged that Delhi government officers did not take their phone calls since their disqualification on January 20.

Kondli MLA Manoj Kumar said: "Development works were being affected in my constituency since my disqualification in the alleged office-of-profit case. Officers were not even picking up my phone."

The Chandni Chowk MLA, Alka Lamba, said that due to her disqualification, she could not become a part of the budgetary process of the government and works were affected.

Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, who had also been disqualified, said: "We had complete faith in the judiciary from day one. If EC would give proper hearing to us, we would not need to move to court."

Asked whether he also has faith in the election commission, which will now hear the office-of-profit case afresh, Gahlot said he has faith in the poll panel and the MLAs will present their stand and make EC understand the matter.

Another AAP MLA, Anil Bajpai, said the truth has prevailed, welcoming the high court order.

"If there had been a proper hearing by the election commission, the order of court would not have come," Bajpai said.