"Members often receive offers of offices in various Committees/Bodies, etc. under the Government of India or State Governments, acceptance of which may result in their incurring disqualification for being Member of the House under article 102(1)(a) of the Constitution," the Secretariat said.
Article 102(1)(a) says that a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either House of Parliament, if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State, other than an office declared by Parliament by law not to disqualify its holder.
The advice assumes significance as 55 members have been elected to the Upper House in the just-concluded biennial elections.
"They are, therefore, requested to obtain approval of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha before accepting such offices," Rajya Sabha Secretary General V K Agnihotri said.
While Jaya Bachchan has been the lone Rajya Sabha member to be disqualified in 2006, Congress President Sonia Gandhi resigned at that time as member of the Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli amid a controversy involving office of profit.
Gandhi was at that time head of the National Advisory Council (NAC), a post since exempted from the purview of the office of profit.
Recently, noted film maker Shyam Benegal, who is a nominated member, had sought the permission of the Chairman in the wake of his appointment as a member of the Prasar Bharti Board.