The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the removal of rebel Janata Dal (United) leader Ali Anwar from the Rajya Sabha for now, PTI reported. The court barred him from attending the House in session but allowed him to get his salaries, allowances and prequisites till it disposes of his main petition challenging the disqualification.
Anwar had moved the High Court seeking an interim stay against his removal from the Rajya Sabha by Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu on December 4. Former JD(U) President Sharad Yadav was also removed along with him.
“[Naidu’s] order cannot be stayed at this stage,” Justice Vibhu Bakhru said, while issuing a notice to Naidu and JD(U) leader in the Rajya Sabha, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, seeking a response on Anwar’s main plea challenging his removal. The court will next hear the petition on March 1.
The high court had given a similar interim relief to Sharad Yadav on his plea last month.
The two leaders broke away from the JD(U) after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar parted from the alliance with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal to tie up with the Bharatiya Janata Party in July. On September 5, JD(U) leaders RCP Singh and Sanjay Jha submitted a petition to Naidu, seeking the disqualification of the two MPs.
Naidu’s disqualification order said Yadav had “voluntarily given up his membership of the political party, Janata Dal (United), by which he was set up as a candidate for election to the Rajya Sabha” and has “incurred disqualification”. Anwar was disqualified for taking a cue from Yadav’s actions and indulging in alleged “anti-party activities”.
Yadav’s Rajya Sabha term was due to expire in July 2022 and Anwar’s in April this year.
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