New Delhi: Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan did not get immediate relief from the Supreme Court on Thursday in the case related to the cancellation of her Rajya Sabha nomination from Madhya Pradesh. The apex court declined to hear the matter on the same day and asked the petitioner to come back on Friday.
The matter was mentioned before a two member bench headed by Justice Prashant Kumar. Natarajan has challenged the order of the Returning Officer, who rejected her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha election. Her legal team sought an urgent stay on the decision, citing the time sensitive nature of the election process.
Appearing for Natarajan, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi urged the court to intervene immediately and issue necessary directions. He argued that the matter required urgent consideration as Thursday was the last date connected with the nomination process. Singhvi also referred to Section 33A of the Representation of the People Act while presenting the case before the bench.
However, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Returning Officer, opposed the plea. The Supreme Court did not pass any interim order on Thursday. Justice Prashant Kumar observed that the legal position was clear and referred to the Ashok Kumar case while asking the petitioner to return on Friday for hearing.
According to the report, Returning Officer Arvind Sharma had cancelled Natarajan’s nomination on the ground that she had not disclosed information about a pending case in Telangana in Form 26. The Congress side has contested the decision and approached the Supreme Court after allegedly not receiving any response from the Election Commission.
A Congress delegation had met the Election Commission on Wednesday over the issue. With no immediate response coming from the poll body, the matter was mentioned before the vacation bench of the Supreme Court.
The case has gained political significance as it comes amid the Rajya Sabha election process in Madhya Pradesh. For the Congress, the court’s next hearing will be crucial, as the dispute directly concerns the validity of Natarajan’s candidature. The Supreme Court’s decision on Friday is expected to determine the next course of action in the nomination cancellation row.