The Delhi High Court refrained from providing immediate relief to Mahua Moitra, an expelled Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament, who sought to annul the directive compelling her to vacate her government residence by January 7. The court cited the pending plea challenging her expulsion from Parliament in the Supreme Court, stating that addressing her current petition could potentially interfere with the apex court’s proceedings.
Justice Subramonium Prasad, acknowledging Moitra’s plea challenging the validity of her expulsion before the Supreme Court, expressed hesitancy in adjudicating her present petition, emphasizing the potential overlap with the SC proceedings. The court scheduled the hearing for January 4, subsequent to the Supreme Court’s deliberation on January 3 regarding Moitra’s case.
The expulsion of Moitra, representing Krishnanagar for TMC, was executed on December 8 concerning allegations of involvement in cash-for-query charges and unethical conduct. Her expulsion stemmed from the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee’s recommendation, citing her purported connection with cash-for-query charges and unethical behavior, leading to her dismissal with a voice vote amid Opposition walkouts.
Moitra’s petition in the High Court questioned the premature issuance of the eviction notice following her expulsion, asserting that the ongoing challenge to her expulsion’s legitimacy in the Supreme Court should precede any enforcement actions. She advocated for the allowance to stay in her current residence until the results of the 2024 general elections, as her expulsion does not disqualify her from running for elected office.
The plea highlighted the significance of stable accommodation for her electoral engagement and party interactions, urging a deferment of any eviction proceedings until her claim regarding rightful occupancy of the government accommodation is addressed and adjudicated by the highest constitutional court.
The Supreme Court, re-listing her petition for January 3 and 4, is poised to address Moitra’s challenge against the Directorate of Estate’s notice, while the Delhi HC adjourns her plea until the apex court’s proceedings unfold.
Sources By Agencies