12 days on, convicted BJP MLA remains assembly member despite court orders
Jaipur: Twelve days have passed since the
upheld the conviction of BJP MLA
in a criminal case and six days have passed since the
directed the legislator to surrender and undergo the three-year jail sentence but Speaker Vasudev Devnani is yet to disqualify him from Rajasthan Assembly in keeping with the law despite repeated demands from the opposition.The delay has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly the Congress, which has accused the Speaker of undermining constitutional norms.
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The matter escalated further Saturday, as the additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) court in Manohar Thana, Jhalawar, issued an arrest warrant against Meena, directing him to surrender on or before May 14. The warrant comes in compliance with the high court's May 1 order that upheld Meena's three-year jail sentence for intimidating a govt official at gunpoint.The Supreme Court on May 7 rejected Meena's special leave petition for relief and directed him to surrender within two weeks, reinforcing the legal obligation of the Speaker for disqualification of an assembly member under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, which mandates that any legislator sentenced to two years or more in prison stands disqualified.When contacted by TOI, Devnani remained unavailable for a statement. Sources in the assembly secretariat confirmed that as of Monday, no instructions were issued to begin disqualification procedures of the BJP MLA. "No instructions have been passed for any action as of today," said an official source.Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully expressed serious concern over the inaction, stating, "The Speaker has decimated the spirit of the Constitution. It seems that the court is the only option left for the opposition to seek justice. I reminded the Speaker's office three times to take appropriate action but there was no response. His office only cited engagements outside Jaipur. The question is whether his priority is travel or upholding his constitutional duty."Responding to Jully's allegations, law and parliamentary affairs minister Jogaram Patel said the state govt has no role in the matter. "Speaker's office is independent and functions separately from the state govt. Any suggestion of govt interference is completely baseless," said Patel.Timeline of EventsMay 1: Rajasthan High Court upholds lower court's conviction of Kanwarlal Meena (3-year sentence)May 7: Supreme Court dismisses Meena's SLP and directs surrender within two weeksMay 11: ACJM Court, Manohar Thana, issues arrest warrant; directs surrender by May 14Speaker Vasudev Devnani yet to initiate
against BJP MLAParliamentary affairs minister Jogaram Patel says state govt has no role in the matter
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