SC to hear petition challenging Rajya Sabha by-elections in UP

New Delhi, June 4 (UNI) Madan Mohan Shukla on whose complaint Samajwadi party leader Jaya Bachchan was disqualified as member of Rajya Sabha for holding office of profit has moved the Supreme Court seeking stay on the by-elections to the seat vacated by her disqualification.

The petitioner whose nomination papers were rejected as a Congress candidate has sought a stay on the by-election on the grounds that since his election petition challenging the rejection of his nomination papers is already pending in the Allahabad High Court, by-election cannot be held to the seat.

The Supreme Court shall hear the petition filed by Mr Shukla tomorrow seeking stay on the by-election slated for June 15.

Other respondents to the petition include senior BJP Leader Murli Manohar Joshi, Former Union Minister Arun Shourie, Reliance Industries Chairman Anil Ambani, BSP Supremo Mayawati and Hotelier Lalit Suri, besides Jaya Bachchan.

The petition has 12 respondents. The petitioner has pleaded that if the by-elections to the seat are held, his petition pending in the High Court shall become infructuous.

According to the petitioner, his nomination papers were illegally rejected by the returning officer in 2004 and the eleven candidates were declared elected unopposed from Uttar Pradesh to Rajya Sabha.

The notification for the by-elections was issued on May 29, 2005.

UNI AKS/SC DKS PC1821