High court dismisses PIL seeking Masood's disqualification

Mumbai, Aug 9 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation seeking the third front's vice-presidential candidate Rashid Masood's disqualification, saying it was not for the court to decide as to who is qualified for any post.

Dismissing the petition, filed by a social worker Virendra Mishra, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice D Y Chandrachud observed that the apex court has set a law whereby taking up election matters for consideration, once process of election was started, was discouraged.

The PIL had taken exception to third front candidate Rashid Masood's remarks about National Song--'Vande Mataram'. Masood had reportedly passed comments on Vande Mataram, while giving special interviews to some news channels after his candidature for Vice Presidential elections was declared.

Mr Masood had reportedly said in the interviews that, he could not sing Vande Mataram... since he was a Muslim and he would lose his religion if he sings the national song. The alleged remarks, according to the petitioner Virendra Mishra were insulting, not only the people of the country but also the nation itself.

Questioning Mr Masood's credentials over these alleged remarks, the petitioner had sought his disqualification and prayed that his candidature be cancelled, claiming that such person will not be fit to hold the high constitutional post.

UNI