New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regained his membership in the Lok Sabha on Monday, following a Supreme Court ruling that stayed his conviction in the ‘Modi’ surname remark case.
This development occurred three days after the apex court halted Gandhi’s conviction in a criminal defamation case related to his ‘Modi surname’ comment.
The court had previously issued notices in July to the Gujarat government and the complainant, responding to an appeal by the Congress leader contesting the Gujarat High Court’s decision.
A statement from the Lok Sabha secretariat cited an official notification, saying, “In continuation of Notification No. 21/4(3)/2023/TO(B), dated the 24th March 2023, the Supreme Court of India has passed an order on 04.08.2023 in Special Leave to Appeal (Cri.) No. 8644/2023, staying the conviction of Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, which was ordered by the judgment dated 23.03.2023 of the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat in C.C./ 18712/2019.”
It further added, “In view of the order dated 04.08.2023 of the Supreme Court of India, the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, notified vide Gazette Notification no. 21/4(3)/2023/TO(B) dated the 24th March, 2023, in terms of the provisions of DS Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, has ceased to operate subject to further judicial pronouncements.”
Rahul, who represents the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, had been disqualified due to his conviction, but the recent Supreme Court ruling has effectively reinstated his Lok Sabha membership.
