The Odisha High Court on Tuesday issued notice to Kandhamal BJD MP Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh on a quo warranto writ petition, in which the petitioner has challenged her election stating that she automatically disqualifies to become a Member of Indian Parliament as she continues to be a citizen of Nepal.
Taking up the petition filed by social activist Subash Mohapatra, Justice Biswanath Rath issued notices to Pratyusha and other respondents of the petition, including the Kandhamal district Collector, who was the Returning Officer of the October 15 bypoll. “After holding preliminary hearings, the High Court issued the notices to all the respondents,” said the petitioner’s
counsel.
It may also be mentioned that another petition is pending in the High Court in which BJP leader Rudra Madhab Ray, who lost to Pratyusha, has challenged her election on similar grounds. The court has, however, not yet taken cognisance of Ray’s petition yet.
Invoking Article 102 (1) (d) of the Indian Constitution, Ray in his petition has stated that a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either House of Parliament if he or she is not a citizen of India. Ray has further alleged that Pratyusha has not yet accepted Indian citizenship.