The Election Commission is understood to have let Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss off the hook in the office-of-profit case pending against him. The EC today sent its opinion to the President on the disqualification petition referred to the Commission by him.

The petition against Ramadoss was filed by retired IAS officer Omesh Saigal on the ground that he was holding an office of profit as president of AIIMS. It was filed before President Abdul Kalam after the Parliament amended the Act governing office of profit during the Monsoon session.

However, Section 3(A) of the pre-amended Parliament (Prevention) of Disqualification Act, 1959, exempts “any office held by a minister, minister of state or deputy minister for the Union or for any state, whether ex-officio or by name” from being considered an office of profit.

Though the EC refused to give any details, it is understood to have given a clean chit to Ramadoss on the basis of the above-mentioned provision. It held a series of hearing on the case allowing both parties to present their arguments.

Saigal had contended that Ramadoss was holding an office of profit as he receives allowances as president of AIIMS but Ramadoss said that this post was only by virtue of him being the health minister and that it attracted no disqualification.