Hearing on petition filed by Sachin Pilot, 18 other rebel Cong MLAs resumes in Rajasthan HC

The counsel representing the Assembly speaker opened the arguments on Monday.

The hearing on a writ petition filed by Sachin Pilot and 18 other dissident Congress MLAs from Rajasthan, challenging the disqualification notices issued to them by the state Assembly speaker, resumed in the high court here on Monday.

Rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot (HT file photo)

The petition was taken up a by a bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta on Friday and arguments were heard.

The counsel representing the Assembly speaker opened the arguments on Monday.

The notices to the MLAs were served after the party complained to the speaker that the lawmakers had defied a whip to attend two Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meetings last week on Monday and Tuesday.

The Pilot camp, however, argues that a party whip applies only when the Assembly is in session.

In its complaint to the speaker, the Congress had sought action against Pilot and the other dissidents under paragraph 2(1)(a) of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

The provision disqualifies MLAs if they “voluntarily” give up the membership of the party that they represent in the House.