On Sunday 21 January 2018, the Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India accented to the Electoral Commissions recommendations to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs on the grounds of;office-of-profit’ held by Delhi Parliamentary Secretaries contrary to the constitution. In regards to the president’s decision, the 20 MLAs moved to Court on Monday to withdraw their plea and file another. To that effect, the Delhi High Court is set to hear eight of the MLAs’ pleas today. Justice Vibhu Bakhru informed the court it is set to hear the MLAs pleas after lunch today.
In a scenario in the courtrooms presided by Bakhru, before taking up the matter, it could be noted that the room was jam-packed with the 8 AAP MLAs and their supporters. Senior party members, Scribes, and MLAs Counsel were also present in the court. Bakhru informed the MLAs that he was unable to hear any case at that moment, therefore, deferred the matter into the afternoon. It cannot be anticipated how the pleas will turn out
Recap of the AAP MLA Events
The issue of the 21 AAP MLAs was presented to the Electoral Commission (EC) following a challenging official claim made by Advocate Prashant Patel in 2015. The EC formed a committee to investigate the matter, and on January 19, after several investigative quests, the poll panel made the recommendation that the 20 MLAs be disqualified. Jarnail Singh was one of the MLAs but he resigned to contest in the Punjab Assembly polls thus the proceedings against him were dropped. The President assented to the EC’s decision sealing the MLAs fate.
The Ministry of Law and Justice went ahead to issue a notification on January 20, that the President had upheld the law under Section 15(1)(a) of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act when he consented to the disqualification of the 20 MLAs.
Efforts made by the MLAs in court and in public has not yet to bore fruit as their pleas keep being thrown out. Accusations have leveled against the BJP aver that they are behind the move to disqualify the 20 MLAs. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia even tried writing an open letter to the public for support on the matter sought no assistance.
The afternoon court ruling may determine the fate of the others.
