Disqualification Proceedings Against Pilot Camp Or Not? Rajasthan Political Slugfest Unfolds In SC Today

The political slugfest will now unfold in the apex court as the court will begin hearing Joshi’s SLP in the morning. Whether action against Pilot camp will hold base or not, will depend upon the crucial hearing.

(PTI)

Rajasthan Political Crisis: The Supreme Court has begun hearing the SLP filed by Rajasthan speaker CP Joshi against the Rajasthan High Court order deferring action against rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot and 18 of his loyalist MLAs. The political drama in Rajasthan has been going on over weeks now after Sachin Pilot opened up a front against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claiming his government has slided into minority. The political slugfest in now unfolding in the apex court as the court will begin hearing to Joshi’s Special Leave Petition in the morning and will decide on whether action against Pilot camp will hold base or not. What does the SLP seek? C.P. Joshi has challenged the Rajasthan High Court decision extending the time for Sachin Pilot and 18 rebel Congress MLAs to reply to the anti-defection notice of July 14 and sought urgent hearing in the matter, claiming that the HC’s order was repressive of speaker’s powers. A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra and comprising Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murari will take up the matter through video conferencing. "It is respectfully submitted that the impugned order passed by the High Court is in effect a stay on the powers of the Speaker under the Tenth Schedule to adjudicate on a disqualification petition", said the plea through advocate Sunil Fernandes. The plea urged the apex court to pass an interim ex-parte order staying the July 21 order of the Rajasthan High Court. ‘Hear us also,’ Pilot files caveat in SC Rajasthan's former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure that no orders are passed on Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi's petition against High Court interim orders without hearing Pilot and his supporting MLAs. A caveat is a notice seeking that certain actions may not be taken without informing the person who gave the notice What was Rajasthan High Court order? The Rajasthan High Court had asked speaker not to take any action till July 24, the day it will announce its order. Pilot and the 18 MLAs from his camp had approached the Rajasthan High Court over the disqualification notices, seeking the quashing and setting aside of the show-cause notices issued to them on July 14 by the Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi had sent notices to Pilot and 18 MLAs under the anti-defection law after chief's whip application for their disqualification. MLAs were earlier asked to present before Assembly Speaker on July 17, but the same was deferred in view of the hearing before the court. Also Watch: Gehlot writes to PM Modi, alleges attempt to overthrow Rajasthan govt