AIBA HAILS ORDER AGAINST RAHUL; SAYS LS SECRETARIAT SHOWED UNDUE HASTE

NEW DELHI: The All India Bar Association (AIBA) said the Lok Sabha Secretariat has shown undue haste and committed an error while taking a decision on the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from membership of the Lok Sabha.

The AIBA said the decision was taken without referring the matter to the President of India under Article 103 as per the Constitution of India and the opportunity of being heard was also not provided to Rahul Gandhi.

The AIBA welcomes the Surat Chief Judicial Magistrate Court verdict in the case as it underlines the constitutional right concerning the right to speech. The order against Rahul Gandhi merely underscores the importance of liberty to speak, but with responsibility.

In a statement, Dr. Adish C Aggarwala, Senior Advocate and Chairman of AIBA said the Fundamental Right to speech is not unfettered and the right has been tempered by restrictions. Every common man in general, political parties and public figures like Rahul Gandhi in particular, should be aware of that. If speeches are made with restrictions and responsibilities in mind, it will save a lot of national resources.

The AIBA, therefore, on this occasion, urges all political leaders and public figures to deliver speeches with a sense of responsibility without offending the cherished feelings of anyone, said Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala, who is also former Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of India and Supreme Court Bar Association.

However, while the court has done its duty by following the Constitution and legal precedents, the Lok Sabha Secretariat should have followed the procedure specified under Article 103 of the Constitution instead of summarily issuing a disqualification notification within a day of the judgment.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat had committed an error in disqualifying Rahul Gandhi from membership of the Lok Sabha without referring the matter to the President of India under Article 103 of the Constitution of India and the opportunity of being heard was not provided to Rahul Gandhi.

Hence, the Notification of the Lok Sabha Secretariat will not stand the scrutiny of a competent Court if this Notification is challenged by Rahul Gandhi.

Even if, the present Notification is quashed by the Court, it should be borne in mind that the Lok Sabha Secretariat is empowered to issue a show cause notice to Rahul Gandhi and then the matter be referred to the President of India and the President of India after obtaining the opinion of the Election Commission shall act according to such opinion.

Article 103 requires the matter of disqualification to be referred for the decision to the President of India and the President of India shall obtain the opinion of the Election Commission of India and shall act according to such opinion and the decision of the President of India shall be final.

AIBA feels that it is a fit case for Lok Sabha Secretariate to rescind Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification notification and instead to follow the time-tested conditional principles of routing it through the President of India for further action.

The AIBA respectfully points to the fact that the issue concerning the conviction and disqualification of Rahul Gandhi involves three constitutional limbs and issues: One, the judiciary, in this case, the subordinate judiciary; two, the Lok Sabha Secretariate which represents the Parliament itself; and, three; right to free speech and the restrictions therein.