It’s a big relief for Sachin Pilot and other rebel MLAs, as no action can be taken against dissident Congress leaders, for now, the Rajasthan High Court said today. The verdict was given by the bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta.
The High Court has also directed to complete the pleading in the matter after which the final hearing will take place. The court is only going to hear the matter associated with whether the notice issued by the Speaker was correct and whether Schedule 2 (1) (A) is Constitutional.
Earlier to this, team Pilot made a last-minute request for making the Union of India or the Centre a party in the case which the High Court accepted. In his request, he pleads to add the center to the case so it can consider whether the anti-defection law put on to them. After accepting the request by the court, the verdict has been postponed.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court had refused to restrain from delivering the verdict by the High Court over the plea of Pilot and 18 other rebels Congress MLAs, stating that the “voice of dissent” can’t be suppressed in a democracy. As soon as the High Court ordered “status quo”, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot stated that an assembly session is soon going to be called and his government will attest its majority. He also pursued an appointment with Governor Kalraj Mishra, whom he later met last evening.
In addition to this, anti-defection proceedings against the 19 rebel MLAs, including Pilot is likely to be delayed further. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) is now going to represent the Centre in the court.
The case has been filed by Sachin Pilot along with other 18 dissident Congress MLAs against the disqualification notice that was given to them by Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi which causes a political crisis in the state.
The disqualification notice by the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi which had been served to the 19 rebel MLAs, including Pilot, was basically on the charge of “anti-party activities” after they avoided Congress legislative party meetings that were held earlier this month.
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