Sachin Pilot Congress rebel has scored a good day in court in his fight against former boss and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The Supreme Court today refused to stop the Rajasthan High Court from announcing its decision tomorrow on a petition by Sachin Pilot and 18 other rebel MLAs challenging disqualification notices served to them for defying the Congress party.
The Rajasthan Speaker, who served the notices last week, had argued that the rebels cannot petition the High Court at this stage. The Rajasthan High Court’s ruling will, however, be subject to the final order of the Supreme Court, which will take up the case on Monday. “It is the matter of just one day. Why can’t you wait,” the top court asked the Speaker during arguments on blocking tomorrow’s verdict.
The judges also questioned why the Speaker, a neutral person, should approach the court at all.
Here’s the 10-point which cheatsheet to this big story :
- Sachin Pilot yesterday sent legal notice to a Congress MLA who accused him of trying to bribe him into defecting. The notice to MLA Giriraj Singh Malinga said he had tried to tarnish Mr Pilot’s image and so he should furnish Re 1 along with a written apology.
- “Assume a leader has lost the faith of persons. While remaining in party they cannot be disqualified. Then this will become a tool and no one can raise their voice. The voice of dissent in a democracy cannot be suppressed like this,” said Justice AK Mishra, one of the three judges hearing the case, without referring to Rajasthan.
- “At a time when our priority should be to save lives and livelihoods of the masses, the centre has become the main conspirator in toppling a state government,” Mr Gehlot wrote to PM Modi. “I don’t know how much you know about this or whether you are being misled. History will also not forgive those who are complicit in these plots,” he said.
- If the rebel MLAs win their case and get protection from disqualification, however, they can vote against the Congress government and make it tough for Mr Gehlot to retain power in Rajasthan.
- Ashok Gehlot’s government has a narrow lead in the 200-member assembly – just one MLA over the majority mark of 101. If the Rajasthan High Court decides the Speaker can continue the process of disqualifying team Pilot’s 19 MLAs, Mr Gehlot can win more easily as the majority mark will come down.
Source : NDTV
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