HC verdict on 20 disqualified AAP MLAS today

IF THE ORDER GOES AGAINST THE AAP LAWMAKERS, THEN BYPOLLS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN 20 CONSTITUENCIES THAT FALL VACANT

NEWDELHI: The Delhi High Court will on Friday pronounce its verdict on a petition filed by 20 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAS, challenging their disqualification by the President, on the recommendations of the Election Commission, for holding offices of profit.

A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Chander Shekhar will deliver their judgment after hearing the case on a daily basis.

If the order goes against the AAP lawmakers, then bypolls will be conducted in 20 constituencies that fall vacant.

On the other hand, if the judgment is in the favour of the Members of the Legislative Assembly, then it will be a moral victory for the party and the AAP government which has always been entangled in a tussle with the Centre.

The court had earlier reserved its order on February 28 after hearing arguments from all the parties.

The 20 AAP MLAS had approached the high court amid a lot of drama and confusion challenging their ‘disqualification’.

The Election Commission had on January 19 recommended the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAS for holding office of profit.

While the MLAS claimed that they have not received any profit during their term as Parliamentary secretaries, the Election Commission had argued that the plea was not maintainable and should be dismissed.

On January 24, the court had refused to stay the Centre’s notification disqualifying them, but had restrained the poll panel from taking any “precipitate measures” such as announcing dates for bypolls.