SC allows PIL challenging Jaya's disqualification to be withdrawn

NEW DELHI, May 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court permitted a PIL seeking to challenge the Presidential order disqualifying Samajwadi Party leader Jaya Bachchan as a Rajya Sabha member, to be withdrawn.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Mr Justice C K Thakker permitted petitioner Viplav Sharma, an advocate to withdraw his petition after the court made it clear that it was not inclined to entertain the petition.

Ms Bachchan has herself filed a writprtition in the apex court challenging her disqualification as MP and it is pending. She has also filed another application in the disposed-off matter titled as Shibu Soren vs Union of India, praying to the court to define the term ''Office of profit'' to clear the confusion.

It may be noted here that over 30 MPs including Lok- Sabha Speaker Som Nath Chatterjee along with over 200 MLAs are facing a threat of disqualification for holding office of profit as complaints have already been referred to the Election Commission by the President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

The government is seriously contemplating of bringing a Bill with the support of all the political parties to clearly define the office of profit and also to save the MPs and MLAs from disqualification under Article 102 of the Constitution.

UNI AKS/SC VD RS2058