Himachal Pradesh Speaker Disqualifies Six MLAs For Violation Of Tenth Schedule

While exercising his powers and jurisdiction under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, the Hon’ble Speaker of Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly today has passed an order disqualifying six Congress MLAs who cross-voted in favour of BJP Candidate for the Rajya Sabha Election on 27.02.2024 and did not attend the afternoon assembly session on 27.02.2024 and again on 28.02.2024 for the passing of Finance Bill.

The Disqualification Petition was moved by Shri Harshwardhan Chauhan, Parliamentary Affairs Minister against the Six MLAs namely; Chaitanya Sharma, Davinder Kumar (Bhutto), I D Lakhanpal, Rajinder Rana, Ravi Thakur, and Sudhir Sharma.

The Speaker Shri Kuldeep Pathania has passed the detailed judgment after hearing both sides at length on 28.02.2024. Shri Pathania while speaking to the press said, “Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of the anti-defection law against themselves...I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh assembly with immediate effect”.

The Petitioner was led by Shri Devadatt Kamat, Senior Advocate along with Advocates Sh. Aman Panwar, Sh. Harsh Pandey, Sh. Revanta Solanki, Sh. Anubhav Kumar and Sh. Ajay Desai. The Respondents were led by Shri Satya Pal Jain, Senior Advocate.