HC refuses to stay AAP MLAS disqualification

NEWDELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday refused to stay the Centre’s notification disqualifying 20 AAP MLAs for holding office of profit but restrained the Election Commission from taking any “precipitate measures” like announcing the dates for bypolls till January 29. Justice Vibhu Bakhru sought response of the poll panel and the Centre on AAP MLAs pleas challenging their disqualification for holding office of profit.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday dismissed a plea by followers of Der a Sac ha Saud ahead G ur meet Ram Rahim Singh seeking telecast of their sect head’s sermons of from Rohtak jail, where he is serving 20-year-jail term for raping two female disciples.

The petition was filed by Malwa Insan Followers Dera Sacha Sauda Association, Bathinda seeking direction to Haryana government and jail superintendent, Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, where Ram Rahim is lodged, to make arrangements for telecast of message of Ram Rahim on January 25, the birth anniversary of Shah Satnam, a predecessor of Ram Rahim. The court was told that Ram Rahim addresses his followers and motivates them for social work and details out the ‘social work’ for the year. The petitioners also sought direction to make arrangements for telecast of sermons through satellite or internet mode through weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Ram Rahim was convicted on August 25 in a 2002 rape case of two disciples. His conviction had resulted in widespread violence in Punjab and Haryana particularly in Panchkula, where over 35 persons lost their lives.

The followers had argued prisoners are also entitled to rights to some extent as a normal human being when they are behind the prison. These rights are provided under the Constitution of India and the Prisons Act, 1894 etc. Prisoners do not lose their basic constitutional rights, they had argued.

The plea was taken up by high court bench of justice Daya Chaudhary.The detailedorderis awaited.