The office of profit issue continues to linger on in the Election Commission with Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss seeking a two-week adjournment of the hearing on his disqualification petition. Meanwhile, the Centre is yet to furnish details on the petition against MoS for Commerce Jairam Ramesh.

Ramadoss, under scrutiny for holding the post of All India Institute of Medical Sciences president, asked for more time, through his counsel, to furnish a reply. As the petition against him was filed after Parliament passed the OoP Bill, the post is not included in the list of exempted offices.

Interestingly, sources said, there is little need for such prolonged and delayed hearing as the act clearly says when a Minister holds any office related to his ministry it cannot be considered as an office of profit. However, EC officials said the petition cannot be disposed off without hearing as the particular office has not been enlisted in the amended Act.

In the case of Jairam Ramesh, the EC has written to the Centre to provide the exact date on which he was appointed to the National Advisory Council. “Since the date of his appointment is unclear in the petition, we have asked the government to provide it,” EC sources said. The government has not yet complied to the request.