Kanjhla unseated as MLA by high court

Chandigarh, Apr 28 (UNI) Punjab independent MLA Gobind Singh Kanjhla, a former minister, was today unseated by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for reporting to corrupt practices to win the election in the assembly polls in 2002.

Mr Kanjhla's election from Sherpur (Reserved) constituency in Sangrur district was declared null and void by Justice M M Kumar of the High Court on a petition which was preferred by the then Congress candidate Ms Harchand Kaur.

Mr Kanjhla was a minister in the previous Akali-BJP government of Parkash Singh Badal from 1997 to 2002. He, however, was denied the party ticket by the Shiromani Akali Dal prompting him to contest as an independent.

While declaring his election as void, Justice Kumar left it to the Election Commission to consider the issue of disqualification of Mr Kanjhla from contesting an election in the future.

The general elections to elect a new Punjab Vidhan Sabha are due in February next year. Mr Kanjhla has also been imposed cost of Rs 50,000 to be paid to the petitioner.

His election to the Vidhan Sabha had been challenged by the defeated Congress candidate Mrs Harchand Kaur who had alleged that the respondent resorted to corrupt practices including exercising his influence in getting a large number of his supporters' names into the voters lists.

Mr Kanjhla was also accused of assisting in securing the old age pension to a large number of such persons who were not eligible for the same. He had secured over 32,000 votes as against 19,000 of Congress candidate Harchand Kaur.

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