No action to be taken against Sachin Pilot, dissident MLAs until July 21: Rajasthan HC

Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court on Friday ruled that no proceedings will be initiated against former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot and the 18 Congress MLAs till July 21.

Pilot and the other dissident MLAs had moved the high court challenging the disqualification notice issued to them by Rajasthan Assembly speaker CP Joshi. They are being represented by senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, counsel for Rajasthan Assembly speaker CP Joshi will be presenting his arguments before the court on July 20.

Congress party decision to disqualify the MLAs came in backdrop of them failing to attend Congress Legislative Party meetings earlier this month.

The rebels have argued that they can’t be served such notices when the Rajasthan assembly is not in session. They have also challenged a constitutional rule that allows the speaker to disqualify any member who has “voluntarily given up his membership” which, they say, is being misused only because they skipped two meetings.

Meanwhile, the Congress continues to maintain that its doors are always open for Sachin Pilot and the MLAs who favoured him over CM Gehlot.