Bhopal: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the decision of Election Commission of India to disqualify Madhya Pradesh minister Narottam Mishra from contesting elections for three years in a paid news case.
Mishra is facing opposition fire for continuing to occupy a seat in the Assembly and in the cabinet despite a clear direction from the EC.
The apex court has directed a division bench of the Delhi High Court to hear Mishra’s plea.
Following the SC stay, Mishra could continue to serve as cabinet minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. He holds Public Relations, Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios.
Former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti, who lost to Mishra from Dabra constituency in in the 2008 Assembly polls, had filed a complaint with the EC accusing Mishra of getting paid news published in his favour during election campaigning.
After prolonged probe, which also was intercepted by legal course taken by Mishra, the EC recently not only nullified his election but also disqualified him from contesting any election for three years.
Mishra had first sought relief from Madhya Pradesh High Court and later at the Delhi High Court but did not get any relief. He was also barred from casting his vote in the Presidential elections.
During the monsoon session of Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the Congress had repeatedly attacked the BJP government for not removing Mishra from the cabinet.
Comments
0 comment