President Pranab Mukherjee today rejected in the Supreme Court the plea of former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma that he was holding an office of profit on the day of filing nomination for President's election. Mr. Mukherjee said he ceased to be the Leader of the Lower House as a result of his resignation from the Union Cabinet.

Senior advocate Harish Salve told a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir that the moment he resigns from the Union Cabinet, he ceases to be the Leader of the Lok Sabha and hence, cannot be said to be holding the office of profit. Salve, appearing for Mukherjee, said either the Prime Minister is the Leader of the Lower House or he can nominate a minister in his place. Salve said, adding that the plea deserves to be dismissed.

In his petition, Sangma had said the veteran Congress leader was not eligible for the post as he was holding offices of profit on June 28, the day he filed his nomination for the President's election.

Initiating arguments before the bench, also comprising justices P Sathasivam, S S Nijjar, J Chelameswar and Ranjan Gogoi, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, counsel for Sangma, objected to the mode of Mukherjee's resignation from the post of Leader of Lok Sabha.