Leader of Opposition: Congress sees ray of hope as Kejriwal's aide drags Modi govt to Supreme Court

New Delhi, Aug 22: Congress might have been seen a ray of hope as the

of India questioned

government at the centre regarding Leader of Opposition (LoP) controversy.

The apex court gave four week time to the government to give reply as why the position of LoP is still vacant in the Parliament. The court is concerned for the fact that the crucial post is still vacant. The Supreme Court judges said the position "conveys a voice different from the government's" and is therefore crucial.

Congress earlier had claimed the position saying that its leader of the floor -- Mallikarjun Kharge should be given the post. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan refused to allot the seat to Congress saying the party does not have the magic number in the House to claim the position.

SC asks Govt to explain the delay in allocating the position of LoP

According to rules, a party must have at least 55 members in the House to claim the post. The Congress has 44.

The apex court questioned the government while hearing a case filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal's close key aide Prashant Bhushan.

Bhushan, a Supreme Court lawyer and AAP leader, urged the court to ask the government the reason of appointing a committee which would select anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal.

The law says that the committee that selects the Lokpal's members must include the Leader of the Opposition along with the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India. The Lokpal's nine members are meant to include four former or serving judges.

OneIndia News