New Delhi: Stating that voice of dissent in a democracy cannot be shut down, the Supreme Court questioned Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi on the reasons for initiating disqualification proceedings against 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including sacked Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot.
The apex court’s bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra made this observation when senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Joshi, listed the reasons for starting disqualification proceedings and said that these MLAs did not attend party meetings and conspired to destabilise their own government.
“This is not a simple matter and these MLAs are elected representatives,’ the bench said and added: ‘Voice of dissent in democracy cannot be shut down. We are trying to find out whether this process (disqualification) was permissible or not.”
Answering to a question of the bench, Sibal said, “These MLAs had gone to Haryana, stayed at a hotel and gave TV bites that they want floor test.”
He said the issue as to whether the disqualification process is permissible or not cannot be taken note of by the court at this stage. “Our grievance is purely constitutional and there cannot be any order till decision is taken by the Speaker.”