The Delhi High Court on Thursday agreed to hear the plea of Congress MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal, and directed Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to accept his resignation.
In his petition, Rajagopal said that though he gave resignation in the Speaker's "format" on August 2, it was yet to be accepted. He said a member could not be forced to continue if he desires to quit, irrespective of the reason behind the resignation. He said non-acceptance of resignation was un-constitutional.
It may be mentioned that Rajagopal submitted his resignation from the membership of Lok Sabha, on August 2 after the Congress Working Committee took a decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana state.
Justice VK Jain said although it is the prerogative of the Speaker of Lok Sabha to decide whether to accept the resignation or not, it is yet to be examined whether the court could interfere into such matters. He asked Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra to assist the court, as a question of law was involved in this matter. Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan is Rajagopal's counsel in the case.
The next hearing on the plea has been posted to October 22. (INN)
filed in:Courts, Andhra Pradesh High Court, Seemandhra Resignations