Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - HT Navi Mumbai Live
Top court to hear case tomorrow
JAIPUR/NEW DELHI: The Rajasthan government has addressed governor Kalraj Mishra’s queries on the urgent need for holding a special session of the assembly and requested him to convene the House on July 31, Congress functionaries aware of the developments said on Saturday, a day after legislators supporting chief minister Ashok Gehlot staged a five-hour demonstration at Raj Bhavan to push for their demand for a special sitting.
Raising the pitch in the midst of a political crisis, Gehlot told MLAs at a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting that he was ready to knock at the doors of the President’s House and protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence in the national capital to defeat the BJP’s “conspiracy” to topple his government, according to the Congress functionaries who did not want to named.
The Congress’s letter sent to Mishra stressed that the governor had to go by the aid and advice of the council of ministers on convening, proroguing or dissolving the House and that he cannot set the agenda or procedure for the conduct of the House, which was in the domain of the speaker, said the people aware of the developments.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will on Monday resume hearing Rajasthan speaker CP Joshi’s plea related to whether or not courts can interfere with disqualification proceedings initiated by an assembly speaker against lawmakers even before a decision has been taken.
A justice Arun Mishra-led three-judge bench last heard the matter on July 23 when it said the issue will require a prolonged hearing since the “question involved is of the very democracy itself”.
Joshi moved the top court on July 22 challenging the Rajasthan high court’s July 21 order that directed him to defer proceedings on disqualification notices issued to 19 rebel Congress lawmakers. Joshi submitted before the Supreme Court that courts cannot interfere with the disqualification proceedings until the speaker makes a decision.