Lower court vacates interim order against P J Kurian

Kochi, June 22(UNI) The Ernakulam Munsiff court today vacated the interim order restraining Prof P J Kurian from claiming to be and functioning as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Additional Munsiff P Santhosh Kumar rejected the civil suit filed by Globy George Mulanthuruthy, seeking a declaration that Prof P J Kurian is incompetent to be a member of the Rajya Sabha.

The court vacated the injunction order and rejected the complaint after being satisfied that the jurisdiction of a civil court is totally ousted by section 170 of the Representation of People Act in entertaining suit or adjudicating whether a candidate for election to Rajya Sabha is eligible or not.

The main contention of the petitioner was that Mr P J Kurian has to face prosecution before the Peermadu magistrate's court for offences involving alleged moral behaviour. Only citizens of integrity and character alone are entitled to function as members of the Rajya Sabha, the petitioner contended.

UNI XR ARC ROY VD RS1511