New Delhi, February 13
The Supreme Court today transferred to itself from the Delhi High Court writ petitions of all 10 MPs who had challenging their expulsion from Parliament before it in the “cash-for-query” scam.
An order to this effect was passed by a Bench of Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Mr Justice C.K. Thakker and Mr Justice R.V. Raveendran in view of the apex court referring the matter to a Constitution Bench earlier after BSP MP Raja Ram Pal had moved a petition before it.
The court declined to entertain any plea for staying of elections in the constituencies represented by the MPs when their counsel contended that the vacancies were likely to cause “cessation” of their membership automatically.
The court adjourned hearing in the matter till the end of the month to consider applications moved by the MPs for various interim reliefs, including that for retaining of the official accommodations and other facilities available to the MPs.
Appearing for the expelled MPs, senior advocate P.N. Lekhi said according to Article 101(4) of the Constitution, the expelled MPs would cease to be members of Parliament if they do not sign the register for 60 consecutive days.
He pleaded the court to issue direction to the Election Commission not to issue notification for holding by-elections to the 10 Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat fallen vacant due to their expulsion.
Lekhi also informed the court that the Estate Officer of the Urban Development Ministry had issued eviction notices to the 11 expelled MPs for vacating the houses allotted to them or pay rent at market rates.
Application for transfer of all cases to the apex court was earlier moved by Attorney General Milon K. Banerjee.
