The Hindu : New Delhi News : Notices issued over MP’s disqualification

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Tuesday, Sep 02, 2008
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Notices issued over MP’s disqualification

Staff Reporter

Case pertains to BSP’s Isam Singh

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notices to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, the Bahujan Samaj Party and others on a petition by a disqualified Upper House member of the party challenging his disqualification.

Issuing the notices, Justice G. S. Sistani asked the respondents to file replies to the petition by September 12.

The petitioner, MP Isam Singh, submitted that his disqualification was arbitrary because the Privileges Committee of the Rajya Sabha had not taken all the relevant facts into account before recommending his disqualification from the House to the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

The Committee had recommended his disqualification accepting the Bahujan Samaj Party’s allegation that he had given up the membership of the party on his own, the petitioner said. He submitted that the facts of the matter were quite contrary to the allegation levelled by the BSP against him. He submitted that actually the party had initially suspended and later expelled him from the party.

He had thereafter approached the Rajya Sabha Chairman requesting him to make arrangements for a separate seat for him in the House. He had then announced his plan for formation of a new political party.

MP’s contention

He argued that since he had neither registered a party with the Election Commission nor fought an election against his parent party, he could not be disqualified from the membership of the House merely on the ground of his intention to form a party.

He further submitted that he was not given sufficient time to submit his version of the story and the hearing was conducted and the disqualification order was passed the same day.

He further submitted that the BSP had approached the Rajya Sabha Chairman seeking his disqualification six months after expelling him.

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