Delay in convicted BJP MLA's disqualification upsets Opposition in Rajasthan
The delay in the disqualification of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kanwar Lal Meena, whose conviction in a 20-year-old case was upheld by the High Court, has upset the Opposition Congress in Rajasthan. The Congress has sought an immediate intervention of Governor Haribhau Bagade in the matter.
Mr. Meena, elected from Baran district's Anta, was sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment in a case of threatening a Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer with a revolver and damaging public property in Jhalawar. A sessions court convicted the MLA in December 2020, while the High Court upheld the order on May 1.
Mr. Meena moved a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, which has directed him to surrender in the trial court in two weeks. The Congress has contended that Mr. Meena's membership of the Assembly should have been cancelled forthwith after the high court's judgment as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Section 8(3) of the Act provides for the disqualification of a lawmaker following conviction for an offence with a two-year sentence or more. Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani has reportedly sought the opinion of Advocate-General and legal experts in the matter, but his decision is still awaited.
Mr. Meena, who has to surrender in the court by May 21, was not elected to the State Assembly at the time of the crime and already had 15 criminal cases against him. In 2016, he led a mob which allegedly attacked the activists of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, founded by Magsaysay Award winner Aruna Roy, during a march in Jhalawar district.
A two-time MLA, Mr. Meena first won the election from Jhalawar's Manohar Thana in 2013, and later from Anta in 2023.
Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Tika Ram Jully, has shot off a letter to the Governor, while accusing the Speaker of deliberately delaying Mr. Meena's disqualification process. 'As per Article 191 of the Constitution and the provisions of the RP Act, an elected representative sentenced to more than two years stands automatically disqualified from holding office,' Mr. Jully said.
Mr. Jully said the Speaker's inaction in the matter was a 'blatant disregard of constitutional duty and democratic norms'. He urged the Governor to uphold the constitutional mandate and give direction for Mr. Meena's disqualification with effect from May 1, when the high court had upheld his conviction and sentence.
Mr. Jully pointed out that a similar decision was taken in 2016 when Bahujan Samaj Party MLA B.L. Kushwaha was sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case. Mr. Kushwaha was disqualified and a by-election was held in his constituency, Dholpur. The high court had also rejected his plea to allow him to cast his vote in the Rajya Sabha election when he was incarcerated before his conviction.
However, Jhalawar Bar Association president Ram Maheshwari said the Supreme Court would hear Mr. Meena's SLP for admission after he surrenders. Any decision on Mr. Meena's membership of the Assembly would be subject to the judgment of the Supreme Court until his petition challenging the high court's verdict remains pending in the apex court, Mr. Maheshwari said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gurjar protesters disrupt train services after mahapanchayat
Jaipur/Alwar: Disgruntled elements who participated in the Gurjar mahapanchayat, called by Gurjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti convenor Vijay Bainsla in Bharatpur's Peelupura Sunday, damaged railway tracks and halted the Kota-Mathura passenger train on the busy Delhi-Mumbai line. The two-hour disruption, which had a cascading effect on the movement of over 12 trains scheduled on the line, was unleashed by an unruly group of youths after Bainsla called off the mahapanchayat following the Rajasthan govt's acceptance of the community's charter of demands, including one to include the 5% MBC reservation in the 9th Schedule. "We are happy with the govt's statement today. For the first time, the state govt has decided to approve the inclusion of the 5% MBC quota in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution in the state cabinet. Once it is approved in the state cabinet, the govt will send it to the Centre for further processing. We thank the chief minister for this," Bainsla told TOI. Angry Gurjar youths, who demanded immediate action from the govt, however, blocked the busy Delhi-Mumbai railway line for over two hours, from 4:30 pm, damaging about one km of the tracks about 150 meters away from the site of the mahapanchayat. As a result of the protests, Avadh Express that runs from Bandra Terminus to Barauni Junction in Bihar was halted at Fateh Singhpura station, while Saugor-Nizamuddin train was stopped at Sawai Madhopur station. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo As protests started to spread, IG Bharatpur zone, district collector, and SP arrived at the scene and persuaded the protesters to vacate the area, managing to clear the track by 6:30 pm. "The halted train departed after a team of DRM Kota repaired the tracks. All the protesters dispersed. I spoke to a few remaining protesters at the spot who have also been dispersed," said Rahul Prakash, IG Bharatpur Range. Prakash said rail movement was restored on the Delhi-Mumbai route via Karwadi-Pillu Ka Pura route on the Bayana section. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Kota division of West Central Railways (WCR), Sourabh Jain, said, "We were informed at 4:33 pm on Sunday that some people moved on to sit on the railway track between Fateh Singh Pura and Dumariya Stations near Pillu Ka Pura. The train no. 54794 Mathura-Sawaimadhopur fast passenger train was halted in the section." "In coordination with State Police and Railways, the people on the track were removed at 6:46 pm through convincing and pursual. The 54794 passenger train has departed from the halt, and other trains have also resumed on track. In the entire episode, around 10-12 trains suffered delays," he added. Sunday's mahapanchayat was called despite the Rajasthan govt, through Home Minister Jawahar Singh Bedam, conveying that it would address the demands raised by the community, including full benefits of 5% reservation in govt jobs and education for most backward classes (MBCs). Bainsla read out the govt draft to the community members, after which it was unanimously agreed to call off the mahapanchayat. However, several community members opposed the govt draft and decided to block the railway tracks. Following the protest, Bainsla and other committee members left the venue, after which angry youths decided to move their protests to the rail tracks.
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad stages protest against land transfer to Adani
Mumbai Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad led a protest on Sunday (June 8, 2025) against handing over the Mother Dairy land parcel in Mumbai's Kurla to the Adani group for Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL). She demanded to use the land for a botanical garden instead of a rehabilitation project, saying, 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi surrenders when American president Donald Trump calls, why CM Devender Fadnavis surrenders when Modi calls for Adani.' Former Minister Ms. Gaikwad alleged the BJP government is constantly ignoring the opposition of the locals and letting Adani swallow the whole of Mumbai during the protest. 'The Kurla Mother Dairyland is environmentally sensitive. Kurla Mother Dairy houses hundred-year-old trees, locals are demanding a botanical garden to protect them, yet it is transferred to Adani for infrastructure purposes at a nominal rate,' she added. Days ago, the Maharashtra Cabinet's decision to transfer an 8.05-hectare Mother Dairy land parcel to the DRPPL triggered opposition from locals and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders. Kurla Dairy is among the three dairies of Mumbai, where milk production stopped over the years, and the land was made available for other projects. Many Congress leaders and party functionaries, including MLA Jyoti Gaikwad, Congress spokesperson Suresh Chandra Rajhans, and Mumbai General Secretary Mahendra Mungekar, along with their supporters and activists, staged the peaceful protest in Kurla. Ms. Gaikwad said, 'While we were peacefully protesting, once again the Modani (Modi and Adani) government had sent a large police force to suppress the voice of the people. What justice is it that the police stopped the peaceful protest with the force of police force? The government is providing security to thieves, but we will not be swayed by this oppression. We will continue to fight against this Adani government for the rights of Mumbai.' She called the transfer of land a part of a 'conspiracy' wherein the plan is to destroy the lives of lakhs of Dharavikars and acquire 600 acres of land in Dharavi, along with Kurla Mother Dairy, saltpans, and Deonar dumping ground land. She alleged government will also seize land parcels in Air India Colony, Bandra Reclamation, Behrampada, and Motilal Nagar without taking the locals into confidence.
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Morning Digest: Alarm sounded on board Gaza-bound aid ship amid Israel's warning to turn back; Alcaraz wins French Open, and more
Freedom Flotilla Coalition says aid vessel approaching Gaza-bound ship left A vessel that was approaching Freedom Flotilla Coalition's Gaza-bound charity ship the Madleen has left, the coalition said early on Monday (June 9, 2025), after an alarm was sounded on the ship warning of a possible interception. Alcaraz produces another major comeback to win French Open final in five-set thriller against Sinner Bad starts in Grand Slam finals are nothing new for Carlos Alcaraz, and each time it's happened he has won the tournament anyway. But not in such dramatic style as Sunday's French Open final, however, when the Spaniard rallied from two sets down and saved three match points to beat Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) for his fifth major title in as many finals. Violence erupts in Manipur after arrest of Meitei group leader Violence broke out across Manipur's Imphal Valley after a top leader of Arambai Tenggol, an armed Meitei radical group, was picked up by security forces on Saturday (June 7, 2025) evening. Four others belonging to the Arambai Tenggol were reportedly detained for questioning. BJP-AIADMK alliance will form Tamil Nadu government in 2026, says Amit Shah Citing the BJP's success in forming governments in New Delhi, Odisha and Maharashtra, party leader and Union Home Minister on Sunday (June 8, 2025) declared in Madurai that the BJP-AIADMK alliance in Tamil Nadu would assert its position in the next year's Assembly elections and defeat the incumbent DMK government. Protester in Bangladesh student uprising of 2024 is a voter in W.B.'s Kakdwip Amid the row over alleged irregularities in the voter lists of West Bengal, a person who was active in the students' protest in Bangladesh in 2024, was found to be a registered voter in the State's Kakdwip Assembly segment. Bengaluru stampede: Siddaramaiah defends action against police, says govnment didn't organise Vidhana Soudha felicitation event Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has defended the government's action against police officials for security lapses during the function organised to felicitate players of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, during which 11 people died in a stampede. Write to ECI formally: Poll panel sources on Rahul seeking reply on election rigging claim A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought the Election Commission's response on his article alleging rigging in Maharashtra polls, sources in the poll authority said on Sunday (June 8, 2025) the constitutional body would respond only if the Leader of the Opposition writes to it directly. They also pointed out that as part of its outreach, the EC had invited all six national parties for separate interactions. While the other five met the EC brass, Congress cancelled the May 15 meeting. President's Rule has made no difference in Manipur: Jairam Ramesh Imposition of President's Rule has made no difference to Manipur, Congress general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday (June 8, 2025), amid fresh violence in the State over the past 24 hours. Hitting out at the government, Mr. Ramesh claimed that in February 2022, the BJP 'engineered a majority for itself alone' in the Assembly election. Jaishankar steps up diplomatic moves in Europe on week-long visit to France and Belgium External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar left on Sunday (June 8, 2025) for a week-long visit to France and Belgium, where he will meet with his counterparts in both governments and in the European Commission and European Parliament headquartered in Brussels. Troops sent by Trump reach protest-hit Los Angeles over Governor Newsom's wishes Hundreds of National Guard troops took up positions in Los Angeles on Sunday (June 8, 2025) on the orders of U.S. President Donald Trump, a rare deployment over the head of the state Governor, after unruly protests against immigration raids. The U.S. military said 300 soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team had been sent to three separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area, and were 'conducting safety and protection of federal property & personnel.' Conservative Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe in serious condition after shooting at political rally Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a conservative presidential hopeful, was in 'serious' condition Sunday (June 8, 2025) following surgery for a gunshot wound at a political rally a day earlier, Bogota's mayor said. Mayor Carlos Galán visited the Fundación Santa Fe clinic to express solidarity with the family of the 39-year-old Senator. Israel reveals tunnel under Gaza hospital, says Mohammed Sinwar's body found there The Israeli Army said on Sunday (June 8, 2025) it had retrieved the body of Hamas's military chief Mohammed Sinwar in an underground tunnel beneath a hospital in southern Gaza, following a targeted operation last month. Another senior Hamas leader, Mohammad Shabana, commander of the Rafah Brigade, was also found dead at the scene along with a number of other militants, who are still being identified, said IDF spokesperson, Brigadier General Effie Defrin.
