Raj high court completes hearing on Sachin Pilot disqualification petition; Verdict on July 24

Jaipur: The Rajasthan high court has completed the hearing into the petition filed by Sachin Pilot camp against the against the disqualification notice issued to the sacked Deputy Chief Minister and 18 MLAs for not attending the legislative party meeting. The court will give its verdict on July 24. The court has stayed any action against Pilot and other MLAs till then.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi who was representing the Pilot camp argued that the Speaker gave a 3-day notice for submitting a reply; however as per the rules, it should have been a 7-day notice. He said that the high court was within its jurisdiction to hear this petition. Rohtagi said that no action was taken when Ashok Gehlot got the BSP MLAs to join the Congress despite a formal complaint submitted against it to the Speaker.

Manu Singhavi who represented Speaker CP Joshi said that the MLAs were not disqualified. Only a notice was issued. The petition has been filed without any grounds, so it should be quashed.

The court reserved the verdict for July 24.

A whip had been issued for Sachin Pilot and 18 MLAs for ignoring the whip requiring them to attempt the meeting.

Amid speculations that Pilot could join the BJP, the Legislative Party meeting was called by the Congress. However, Sachin Pilot and his supporters refused to attend the meeting. The meeting was called again the next day, but no legislator from the Pilot camp attended. Terming it a violation of party whip, the Speaker issued a disqualification notice.