New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has been constituted under Lok Sabha MP Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi (Congress) to examine the constitutional and legal position relating to offices of profit, it was announced here Tuesday.

This follows motions adopted by both houses of parliament on the issue last month.

The JPC will:

* Examine, in the context of settled interpretation of the expression "Office of Profit" in article 102 of the constitution and the underlying constitutional principles therein, and to suggest a comprehensive definition of "office of profit";

* Recommend, in relation to "office of profit", the evolution of generic and comprehensive criteria which are just, fair and reasonable and can be applied to all states and union territories;

* Examine the feasibility of adopting a system of law relating to prevention of disqualification of members of parliament as existing in Britain and considered by the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976;

* Examine any other matter incidental to the above.

The JPC has decided that constitutional/legal experts, academicians, law institutes, bar councils, public bodies or individuals desirous of submitting memoranda on the above issues should send two copies of these in English or in Hindi, an official release said.

These should be sent to the director (CB), Lok Sabha Secretariat, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi, email: almartin@sansad.nic.in on or before Oct 6.

"The memoranda which might be submitted to the JPC would form part of the records of the committee and should be treated as strictly confidential and not circulated to anyone, as such an act would constitute a breach of privilege of the committee," the release said.

Those wishing to giving oral evidence before the committee besides submitting a memorandum, should said a communication to this effect for the committee's consideration, it added.