Former Dy CM Sachin Pilot Along With 18 Rebel MLAs Moves Rajasthan HC against Disqualification Notices Issued By The Speaker

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot along with 18 other Members of Legislative Assembly have moved Rajasthan High Court challenging the notices issued by Speaker CP Joshi seeking their disqualification from the Congress party.

The Speaker issued the disqualification notices on July 14, stating that the 42-year-old Pilot and 18 other MLAs violated the direction issued by Chief Party Whip Dr. Mahesh Joshi, to attend the legislative party meetings held on Monday and Tuesday.

Sachin Pilot was removed as Deputy Chief Minister of the State and President of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee. While two others, Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena who were ministers, were also removed from their post.

The notice states that the activities of Sachin Pilot and the rebel MLAs were blatantly prejudicial to the continuation of the government and they have been asked to show cause for not disqualifying them on the grounds of defection under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

Petitioners have contended that they “faced genuine grievances about the manner in which the state government was functioning as the voice of the masses was not being heard.” Being aggrieved the petitioners expressed their grievances that were not tolerated by the Chief Minister.

Indulging in a healthy discourse about the pros and cons of policies of the Congress party cannot be inferred as the member “voluntarily giving up his membership”, the petitioners contended. The petition states, “In a democratic setup, the actions of of an elected representative of the people who merely seeks to voice disagreement with certain policies or decisions taken by the members of his party cannot be said to amount to him acting against the interests of the party much less tantamount to indulging in activities prejudicial to the continuation of the government.”

Moreover, the petition refers to public statements made by Pilot to the media denying that he will be joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, pledging allegiance towards the Congress party and states-

“Petitioners continue to express their allegiance to the party and are in manner seeking to defect any other party, much less bring down the government of which they have been part of.”

Although the petition was listed today before the bench headed by Justice Satish Chandra Sharma at 3 PM, the matter was adjourned after petitioner’s counsel Senior Advocate Harish Salve sought time to amend the petition and add challenge to certain provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act in the petition.

The petition will now be heard by a division bench tomorrow.