HC dismisses petition challenging Sonia holding Congress Chief pos

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today dismissed a petition challenging Congress President Sonia Gandhi holding the party post as she was a foreign-born Indian citizen saying the plea did not have any constitutional validity.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Kailash Gambhir said, ''There is no merit in the petition, so dismissed.'' Rashtriya Mukti Morcha(RMM) had filed the petition in 1999 challenging the constitutional validity of Ms Gandhi holding the post of the president of Congress party.

Senior Counsel P N Lekhi, Counsel Ravinder Kumar appearing for the RMM submitted that Ms Gandhi is a registered Indian citizen and could not hold the post of President or Secretary of a recognised party.

She neither could hold the post of President or Prime Minister of India, nor any post in any political party, said Mr Lekhi.

Mr Lekhi cited Articles 5, 11 and 58 of the Indian Constitution and various sections of the Representation of People's Act to substantiate his arguments.

Citing the Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, Mr Lekhi said she could not hold any public office as she would have access to classified documents being the chief of the party in power.

Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra appearing for the government submitted that the issue of citizenship of Ms Gandhi was decided by the Supreme Court in a judgement in the past.

UNI PAT MIR BST2007