New Delhi:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid a brief visit to the Parliament this morning even as a two-year jail sentence in a defamation case threatens to cancel his Lok Sabha membership. He left after the Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon amid protests.
Mr Gandhi, a MP from Kerala’s Wayanad, was convicted yesterday and sentenced to two years in jail for his alleged remarks over the ‘Modi’ surname. A Gujarat court granted him bail for 30 day to appeal the decision.
If a Member of Parliament is convicted of any offence and is sentenced for at least two years, he attracts disqualification, according to Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Mr Gandhi “automatically” stands disqualified as a MP due to his conviction and the two-year sentencing, say some legal experts, while others say he can avoid suspension if he manages to get the conviction overturned.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat can disqualify Mr Gandhi based on the Surat court’s order, said experts. But it has not made any announcement in this regard.
Source link: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-to-attend-lok-sabha-proceedings-day-after-conviction-in-a-defamation-case-3888673