Context: Recently,  Kerala health department has identified Shigella bacteria as the cause for the food poisoning incident in Kasaragod, which claimed the life of a girl and led to 30-odd others being admitted to the hospital.
About Shigella

• Shigella is a bacterium that belongs to the enterobacter family — a group of bacteria that reside in the intestine, not all of which cause disease in humans. 
• Symptoms: It mainly affects the intestine and results in diarrhoea, sometimes bloody, stomach pain and fever.
• Transmission: Shigella is generally transmitted through contaminated food or water, or through person-to-person contact.

Shigellosis is primarily a disease of poor and crowded communities that do not have adequate sanitation or safe water.

• Incubation Period: The incubation period of shigellosis is typically 1–4 days.
• Types of Shigella: There are four types of Shigella bacteria that affect humans — Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Shigella boydii, and Shigella dysenteriae. The fourth type causes the most severe disease because of the toxin it produces.

Treatment: The cornerstone of shigella treatment is the maintenance of hydration and electrolyte balance.

• Antibiotics are also recommended for reducing illness duration and for preventing transmission.

However, currently, there are no vaccines available for shigellosis.

In News:

=> Election Commission sent notice to Jharkhand C.M for allotment of mining lease to himself over Office-of-Profit charge.

What is the issue?

=> The Election Commission has sought an explanation on the ‘office of profit’ charge from the Jharkhand C.M.

=> The Commission said that the holding of office of profit by the Chief Minister would violate Section 9A of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951.

• Section 9A of the act deals with the disqualification of the elected representatives for Government contracts.

=> The opposition earlier made a representation to the governor, who forwarded it to the EC

• under Article 192 of the Constitution. Under Article 192, the governor can decide on disqualifying an elected member of the state Assembly on the EC’s opinion.

What is the Concept of ‘Office of Profit’?

Definition: The office of profit has been interpreted as a position that brings to the office-holder some financial gain, remuneration or benefit. The amount of such profit is immaterial.

Independence: The concept forbids members of the legislature from accepting an office of profit under the executive so as to maintain the autonomy of the legislature and preserve the separation of powers.

Objective: The intent is to avoid the conflict of interests between the duties and interests of an elected member.

What constitutes an ‘Office of Profit’?

=> The constitution does not explicitly define the phrase.

=> However, it has evolved over decades with subsequent judicial pronouncements.

=> Supreme Court has listed certain factors while considering ‘office of profit’:

• whether the government is the appointing authority
• whether the government has the power to terminate the appointment
• whether the government determines the remuneration
• what is the source of remuneration
• the power that comes with the position.

Statutory provisions related to ‘Office of Profit’ Union law:

=> Parliament has also enacted the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959, which has been amended several times to expand the exempted list.

=> RPA Act, 1951: Clause 9A of the Act says that a person shall be disqualified if there is a contract involving him in the course of his trade or business with the appropriate Government for the supply of goods to or for the execution of any works undertaken by that Government.

=> State laws: Certain state legislatures have enacted laws in their respective states exempting certain offices from the purview of office of profit.