BJP-BSP appeal against ‘merger’ of BSP MLAs with Congress sent back to single-judge bench

Jaipur: The division bench of Rajasthan High Court on Thursday disposed of appeals filed by a BJP MLA and BSP against the order of a judge, who had refused to stay the functioning of six BSP MLAs as Congress legislators. BJP MLA Madan Dilawar and BSP national secretary Satish Mishra had approached the division bench on Tuesday appealing against the single-judge bench order.

Both the parties had earlier filed writ petitions challenging the decision of Speaker CP Joshi in September 2019 allowing merger of the six BSP MLAs with the Congress. The single-judge bench of Justice Mahendra Goyal had issued notices to the Speaker and secretary of the assembly, and the six MLAs on July 30 and directed them to submit replies on August 11. But the judge had not granted any interim relief and refused to put a stay on the six BSP MLAs' participation in the proceedings of the House as Congress MLAs.

The division bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta had issued a notice to the assembly Speaker on Wednesday on the appeal but no reply was filed on his behalf.


It said the single judge-bench will hear the stay application of the BJP and the BSP on August 11.

(With inputs from PTI)