Anurag Kumar
Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear an appeal challenging the Gujarat high court’s refusal to suspend Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in a criminal defamation case. This comes two days after a petition was filed in response to the high court’s refusal to suspend the magistrate court’s two-year jail sentence against the Congress leader, resulting in his disqualification as a Lok Sabha member.
The appeal was filed precisely one week after the high court rejected Gandhi’s bid to regain his Lok Sabha seat, finding that the Congress leader “breached modesty” and that his offence involved “moral turpitude.” The appeal was lodged on Saturday morning, but a hearing date has not yet been set. Next week, Gandhi’s attorneys are anticipated to mention the appeal for an expedited hearing.
The Congress leader’s appeal reached the apex court after his earlier petitions were denied by the session court and the high court.
Gandhi urged the highest court to suspend his conviction immediately so he could regain his status as a member of parliament, arguing that the conviction order would stifle free speech, free expression, free thought, and free statement.
“It would contribute to the systematic, repeated emasculation of democratic institutions and the resulting suffocation of democracy, which would be extremely detrimental to India’s political climate and future,” he said.
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The order from the highest court indicated that Gandhi’s exclusion from Parliament will persist.
The conviction and two-year prison sentence disqualify Gandhi from entering either House of Parliament for eight years. However, this can be reversed if he can convince a superior court to overturn or suspend the conviction.
