Latest news with #Shishir
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Allahabad HC allows withdrawal of PIL seeking cancellation of Rahul Gandhi's citizenship
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad high court has dismissed as withdrawn a fresh public interest litigation (PIL) filed by BJP worker S Vignesh Shishir from Karnataka, who sought the cancellation of Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's Indian citizenship. The plea also sought a ban on Gandhi's foreign travel during the pendency of the alleged citizenship issue. A Division Bench comprising Justice A R Masoodi and Justice Ajai Kumar Srivastava passed the order on Wednesday. This was the third petition moved by the same petitioner raising questions over Gandhi's citizenship status. Shishir's earlier two petitions had also been dismissed by the court. In its latest order, the bench permitted the petitioner to withdraw the present petition with the liberty to file a review of the court's earlier decision dated May 5, 2025. The bench observed that the petitioner had made a representation to the central government on the issue. 'The court cannot enter into the arena unless something legally justified is placed before it,' the bench noted. During the hearing, the petitioner alleged that Rahul Gandhi entered Vietnam using a British passport and claimed that the United Kingdom's government had sent the said passport to the Indian authorities. 'I have 200 pages to show Gandhi is a citizen of the UK,' Shishir told the court. However, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the arguments and declined to entertain the petition. 'Dismissed as withdrawn with liberty to file a review of the previous order (May 5),' the bench ordered. On May 5, 2025, the court disposed of Shishir's second petition, which alleged that Gandhi holds dual citizenship. At the time, the court had granted the petitioner the option to explore alternative legal remedies.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Allahabad HC dismisses PIL plea over Rahul Gandhi's citizenship issue as withdrawn
LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed as withdrawn a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking cancellation of the citizenship of Rahul Gandhi and a ban on his overseas travel while the matter is pending, after expressing doubt over the authenticity of the documents presented by the petitioner. A division bench of the Lucknow bench, comprising Justice Attau Rehman Masoodi and Justice Ajai Kumar Srivastava-I, questioned petitioner S Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker from Karnataka, about the legitimacy of the foreign passport he claimed Rahul Gandhi possessed. 'Who verified the UK passport and who is the issuing authority?' the bench asked, further enquiring whether the authenticity of the passport had been established. In response, Shishir told the court that he had a video of Rahul Gandhi holding a passport of another country. The bench then suggested, 'File an RTI. We cannot help you.' This was Shishir's third PIL on Gandhi's citizenship issue. The earlier two pleas had been disposed of without any effective relief. The latest PIL was filed four days after his second one was dismissed by the same bench. In that hearing, on 5 May, the court had granted Shishir the liberty to explore other legal remedies, after the Centre informed it that it could not provide a timeline for resolving the issue. While dismissing the current petition, the bench observed that there was no new or relevant material to seek the court's indulgence and permitted the petitioner to withdraw it, with liberty to file a review of the order.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC disposes of petition alleging Rahul Gandhi's dual citizenship
LUCKNOW The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad high court on Monday disposed of the petition alleging that Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, holds dual citizenship of India and the United Kingdom and allowed the petitioner to explore other alternative legal remedies. The PIL was filed by BJP worker S Vignesh Shishir from Karnataka, claiming that Gandhi was a citizen of Britain as well as India, making him ineligible to contest elections under Article 84 (A) of the Constitution. A bench of Justices AR Masoodi and Rajeev Singh passed the order on Monday on the petition seeking a CBI probe into Rahul's citizenship matter. It said that as the central government is not able to give any time limit to resolve the petitioner's complaint, there is no justification to keep this petition pending. With this observation, the court disposed of the petition permitting the central government to continue the probe into the matter. Deputy solicitor general SB Pandey, who appeared for the central government, informed about the order passed by the court on Monday. On November 25, 2024, the court had asked the central government to furnish details about the action taken on a representation before the Union home ministry, which claimed that Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi holds United Kingdom (UK) citizenship. As per an earlier order of the court, the required response could not be placed, and central government counsel SB Pandey had sought more time to place the same. The counsel had stated that the matter is under active consideration by the Union of India. He requested for and was granted further time to apprise the court about the outcome of the ongoing exercise. In July 2024, the HC had allowed Shishir to withdraw a similar petition and granted him the liberty to pursue remedies under the Citizenship Act. Shishir has now again moved the high court for a decision on his representations. He informed the court that after withdrawing his earlier petition before the high court, he submitted two representations to the competent authority in the Union home ministry. These representations sought the cancellation of Gandhi's Indian citizenship on the grounds of his alleged British citizenship. Shishir has also requested a CBI probe into the matter.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bureaucratic reshuffle in UP: Two record innings come to an end amid questions of why and how
LUCKNOW Bureaucratic reshuffles are often a routine exercise in governance, but occasionally they involve sweeping administrative moves that create a larger buzz of why and how. Monday night's big transfers in Uttar Pradesh qualify in this category, especially because of two names - 2006 batch IAS officer Kaushal Raj Sharma and IAS officer Shishir, a member of the 2013 promotee batch. While Sharma came across as one of the most trusted lieutenants of the powers that be, Shishir was considered among the closest to chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Both officers created a record of sorts for their long stints in a state earlier known for shorter tenures. Kaushal Raj Sharma remained in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency - Varanasi - for over 5 years - first as the district magistrate and then as the commissioner of Varanasi division, before being shifted to Lucknow late on Monday night, as secretary to the chief minister. Shishir held the post of director of information, UP, for nearly 7 years in a row - the longest tenure in at least three decades on a seat considered vital to both the chief minister and his government's public relations and publicity. He is now special secretary, MSME, and CEO of Khadi and Gramudyog Board. The reshuffle brought an end to these long innings. Sharma held various important positions, including CDO (Lucknow) and special secretary in the infrastructure and industrial development department. His experience as DM in five districts, including Lucknow, Pilibhit, Muzaffarnagar, Prayagraj and Kanpur Nagar probably came in handy for him when he was chosen for one of the most sensitive and important post of Varanasi DM. He assumed charge as Varanasi DM on November 2, 2019. It was probably because of the hard work he put in and his efficient handling of public affairs as Varanasi DM that the state government was compelled to cancel his transfer when he was promoted and posted out of Varanasi as divisional commissioner Prayagraj in June 2022. Kaushal Raj Sharma held dual charge as Varanasi DM and Varanasi divisional commissioner for some time and thereafter continued to work as divisional commissioner since October 7, 2022. Efforts for relief during Covid lockdown, panchayat elections, 2022 UP assembly elections and G-20 summit were among the challenges of his tenure as DM and commissioner, Varanasi. On the other hand, Shishir, who was posted as director, information, UP, in 2018 for the Yogi Adityanath-led government, continued to work on the post for nearly seven years. A state civil service officer, he was promoted to IAS (2013 batch). Shishir had one of the longest tenures as director, information, and made his mark not only for his proximity to the powers that be, but also for his courteous demeanor and efficient handling of challenges. Shishir was able to avoid any political controversies while performing his duties even during 2019 Lok Sabha, 2022 UP assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Mahakumbh was also held in his tenure as director of information.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Allahabad High Court Grants Centre more time to decide on representation to cancel Rahul Gandhi's citizenship
The Allahabad High Court on Monday (April 21, 2025) granted 10 more days for the Union of India to decide on a representation filed before it seeking the cancellation of Rahul Gandhi's citizenship as Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. Bench of Justice Attau Rehman Masoodi and Justice Ajai Kumar Srivastava-I, are dealing with a plea filed by S. Vignesh Shishir, who has prayed from the court to pass a direction to the Chief Election Commissioner, Chief Electoral Officer UP, and Returning Officer, Raebareli, to cancel Mr Gandhi's electoral certificate. He also sought a CBI probe into Mr. Gandhi's alleged British Citizenship, which was rejected by the court in the last hearing, on in December last year. Mr Shishir's social media profile says he is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member. In his application, Mr. Shishir claimed that he had submitted a detailed representation-cum complaint to the Foreigners Division Ministry of Home Affairs, in which he requested the authorities concerned to cancel Mr Gandhi's Indian citizenship under the Rules and Regulations of S. 9 (2) of the 1955 Act r/w Rule 40 (2) of the Citizenship Rules 2009 and Schedule III of the 2009 Rules. The court granted 10 days time to the government on the request of Deputy Solicitor General of India, Surya Bhan Pandey, who represented the central government in the matter. The Bench posted the matter for hearing next on May 5.
