Sidhu can continue with TV show

Punjab Advocate General Atul Nanda has not found any conflict of interest between Navjot Singh Sidhu being a state cabinet minister and his work on television shows.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has received the advocate general’s report on the issue, Raveen Thukral, media advisor to the CM said on Thursday.

The chief minister had said there would be no hindrance to Sidhu continuing with TV shows, nor any need to change his culture portfolio under these circumstances.

There was, in the opinion of the state’s advocate general, no violation of the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 or the Code of Conduct in this case.

The cricketer-turned-politician “faces no legal bar in continuing with his work on the show.”

“There is no conflict of interest between his work on the show and his office and discharge of duties as the Minister of Local Government, Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Archives and Museums for the State of Punjab,” the four-page report concluded, according to Thukral.  This means there is also no need for any change in the culture portfolio Sidhu holds, Thukral has made clear.

The advocate general was asked by the chief minister to give his legal opinion on whether there was any restriction on Sidhu continuing as a celebrity guest on the comedy programme The Kapil Sharma Show.

Citing the Constitution, the report said the role of a celebrity judge on the show is not an office of profit under the government of India and the state government. It is not even an office under the Centre or the state government, it added.

“Hence the continuation of such work would not invite the disqualification of holding of an office of profit within the meaning of Article 191(1),” it said.
DH News Service