Delhi High Court rejects plea of MP minister Narottam Mishra over ECI's decision to disqualify him

A Delhi High Court Division Bench on Sunday dismissed the petition of Madhya Pradesh Minister for Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Narottam Mishra that challenged his disqualification demanded by ECI.

On June 23, the bench of the Election Commission of India ruled to disqualify Mishra as an MLA and also to bar him from contesting public office for the next three years.

The ECI found Mishra guilty on charges of misreporting election expenditure and paying news channels to broadcast biased news ahead of the 2008 Assembly election in Datia constituency.

The disqualification has been categorised under Section 10A of the Representation of People's Act 1951 along with Sections 77 and 78.

The complaint in this regard was filed by Rajendra Bharti who had contested the election against Mishra in 2008 and then again in 2013.

MISHRA CONTINUES TO 'ACT' LIKE A MINISTER

On Sunday, Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Pratibha M Singh heard the arguments by Mishra's counsel Mukul Rohatgi who said that the Congress leader held the post of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in MP and was needed to vote in the Presidential election today.

After hearing from the counsels of the ECI and complainant Bharti, the bench dismissed the petition.

Initially, Narottam Mishra had filed the petition with the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and then at the Jabalpur bench.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court moved the matter to the Supreme Court which asked the Delhi High Court to hear it and decide before July 17 (today).

Meanwhile, Mishra continues to discharge his functions as a minister even though he is not a member of the House since after June 23.

The Congress has said that it will raise the matter in the Assembly's Monsoon session that starts today.