In a setback to the Arvind Kejriwal Government in Delhi, President Pranab Mukherjee has refused to give his nod to the bill on "Office of Profit," raising questions on the fate of 21 Aam Aadmi Party legislators who had been appointed as Parliamentary secretaries last year.

Holding an office of profit is a violation of the Constitution by an elected member.

The President's letter has been sent to the Law Department of Delhi government, which may now seek legal recourse, said sources in the government.

Home Ministry sources said once the President has refused, the legislators will automatically stand disqualified, making an election in Delhi necessary. AAP has 67 seats in the 70-member assembly.

The contentious bill - meant to exclude the post of parliamentary secretaries from the list of "office of profit" -- was passed by the Delhi Assembly last year to validate the post of legislators, who got their appointment on March 13, 2015. The government wanted the bill to give them retrospective exemption. The bill only needed the President's nod.

A petition, meanwhile, was filed with the President, seeking disqualification of the legislators. It said they occupied office of profit in violation of the Constitution.

The President had referred the issue to the Election Commission, which sought the replies of the legislators.

Sources in the Election Commission said the issue is pending before the Commission. A date will be fixed for hearing, after which the Commission will decide the fate of the legislators. #casansaar (PTI - NDTV Profit)