More than half of elected MLA’s yet to disclose wealth details

Even though the emphasis is on transparency today, the members of the state assembly are not taking interest in it. This is the picture of the case of MLAs giving details of their assets. The current assembly is about to complete its term of more than two and a half years, but so far 47 out of the total 71 MLAs, including a nominated MLA, have not given details of their assets to the Assembly Secretariat. These include the Chief Minister, two cabinet and one Minister of State as well as the Leader of Opposition.

Like in Uttar Pradesh, in Uttarakhand, the members of the Legislative Assembly have to give details of their assets to the Assembly Secretariat. The Secretariat updates the Gazette every year by updating it. In Uttarakhand also, the details of property received from MLAs are made public by the Legislative Assembly Secretariat within the time prescribed in Section 3 (2) and Section 4 of the Uttar Pradesh Minister and MLA (Publication of Assets and Obligations) Act 1975. Although it is not binding but voluntary, it is important for healthy parliamentary traditions and transparency.

Despite this, the members of its current assembly are not taking interest in it. According to the information received from the Assembly Secretariat, so far only 24 MLAs out of 71 have given information about their property once after being elected in the Assembly Secretariat. Out of these 23 MLAs are another Independent of BJP. (These include late cabinet minister late Prakash Pant, who gave details of his assets to the Assembly Secretariat) The remaining 47 MLAs are yet to show interest in giving details of the assets.