The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Governor’s decision to disqualify BJP MLA Bajrang Bahadur Singh from Uttar Pradesh assembly for acquiring a road construction contract from the state government while serving as a lawmaker.
A bench, headed by Justice J Chelameswar, referred to the provisions of the Representation of People Act and the Constitution and said the Governor’s decision cannot be faulted as the lawmaker had taken the contract on his name and was executing it as well.
The court, which on March 30, had stayed the by-election process in Pharenda assembly seat in Maharajganj district, represented by Singh, could not dictate the entire order in the open court.
The fate of stalled bye-election, earlier scheduled to be held on April 11 by the poll panel, would be known tomorrow when the verdict is likely to be pronounced.
Earlier, the Election Commission had moved the apex court against the order of the Allahabad High Court staying the by- poll in Pharenda Assembly segment saying the notification for the election are “usually” not stayed once the process begins.
The Pharenda seat fell vacant after the disqualification of the BJP MLA who was foundto have acquired a road construction contract from the Public Works Department on October 15, 2012 after he became an MLA. He was disqualified from the same date on which he had acquired the contract.
PTI