This Article is From Oct 25, 2010

Supreme court seeks opinion on Amar's plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought theAttorney General's opinion on Amar Singh and Jaya Prada's plea that they shouldnot be disqualified as Members of Parliament after their expulsion from the SamajwadiParty.


A bench headed by Justice Altmas Kabir askedAttorney General GE Vahanvati for his opinion and posted the matter for furtherhearing on November 9.


Sacked Samajwadi Party MPs Singh and JayaPrada had moved the apex court fearing they may be disqualified for not followingthe party whip in Parliament in view of the apex court in a case in 1996.


As per the interpretation of theanti-defection law by the Supreme Court in 1996, a member elected or nominatedby a political party continues to be under its control even after his/herexpulsion.


They felt the interpretation of the tenthschedule offered by SC impinged upon fundamental rights of expelled members,including rights under articles 14, 19 and 21.


Both the leaders were suspended from theSamajwadi Party on February 2 for anti-party activities.

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