Rajasthan crisis LIVE: Ashok Gehlot to address media at 9 am in Jaipur

Petition filed in Rajasthan HC on behalf of Sachin Pilot camp over disqualification notice from Assembly speaker. Stay tuned with Business Standard for all latest news updates.

3:40 PM

Rajasthan HC grants time to Sachin Pilot camp to file fresh petition, matter to be heard now by Division Bench

3:39 PM

Sachin Pilot camp seeks time to amend its petition challenging move to disqualify dissident MLAs from Rajasthan Assembly

3:38 PM

Counsel Harish Salve says dissident MLAs want to challenge constitutional validity of disqualification notices issued by Rajasthan Speaker

3:24 PM

Rain lashes parts of Mumbai; IMD predicts cloudy sky with heavy rain

3:12 PM

Disqualification notice to Sachin Pilot, 18 MLAs ignites debate over Speakers' power

The debate over Speakers' power under the Constitution to entertain pleas seeking disqualification of MLAs has been ignited again amid the political crisis in Rajasthan with the Assembly Speaker entertaining such a plea by the ruling Congress party and issuing notices to 19 lawmakers in the state, PTI reported.

 

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi has sent disqualification notices to sacked Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and 18 other MLAs on the basis of the complaint made by the party. The dissidents have to reply by Friday.

 

The apex court, in a plethora of verdicts, has given varying judicial opinions on Speakers' powers ranging from refusing to intervene in the matter to assuming the role of the Speaker itself and going to the extent of disqualifying lawmakers under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

 

The 2011 verdict of the Supreme Court in the Karnataka case may strengthen the case of the 19 MLAs, including Pilot, according to some legal experts.

 

The top court had set aside the disqualification of 11 BJP MLAs, who were opposed to the then Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, by the Speaker. The high court had endorsed their disqualification.

3:00 PM

Northern Railway completes electrification work on 130 km line in Punjab, Haryana

The Northern Railway has completed the electrification work of 130 km section in Punjab and Haryana which will ensure that no more diesel locomotives are used in the stretch, officials said Thursday.

 

The electrified lines include 62 km long Dhuri(Punjab)-Jakhal(Haryana) line and the 68 km Dhuri-Lehra Muhabbat single line in Ambala Division, a statement from the Northern Railwayssaid.

 

A speed trial for up to 120 kmph was also done in these sections, according to a PTI report.

2:50 PM

Disengagement is intricate, needs constant verification: Indian Army at LAC

The process of complete disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh is "intricate" and requires constant verification, the Indian Army said on Thursday after the fourth round of marathon military talks between India and China.

 

The army said senior commanders of the Indian and Chinese military reviewed the progress on implementation of the first phase of disengagement and discussed further steps to ensure complete withdrawal of troops in the region.

 

The commanders held 15-hour-long negotiations in Chushul on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control(LAC) from 11 AM on Tuesday to 2 AM on Wednesday during which modalities for the complex disengagement process were extensively discussed.

 

"The senior commanders reviewed the progress on implementation of the first phase of disengagement and discussed further steps to ensure complete disengagement," the Indian Army said in a statement. READ MORE...

2:45 PM

Congress govt in Rajasthan pastes notice at MLA Indraj Singh Gurjar's residence for not attending recent CLP meetings

Congress government in the state has put a notice at MLA Indraj Singh Gurjar's residence in Kotputli for not attending the recent Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meetings. He has to respond to the notice within two days.

 

"We do not have political background and money, but Sachin Pilot helped him (Indraj Singh) in getting ticket to fight polls. I request party high command that youth should be encouraged in the party," said Indraj Singh's younger brother.

 

When elections were held six years ago, then the party only managed to get 21 seats. Sachin Pilot worked hard in the past six years. He assimilated youth and all of them want to see him as Chief Minister, now he is sidelined.

 

"I request the party's high command to take cognizance of this," he said adding that he will always be on Pilot's side.

 

Eighteen Congress MLAs, along with Pilot, have been issued a show-cause notice for not attending the CLP meeting. Though Pilot has not returned to Jaipur from New Delhi, his demeanour seems to have become softer, party sources believe.

 

On July 14, Congress party had sacked Sachin Pilot from the post of Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan and also from PCC president.

2:39 PM

Abhishek Manu Singhvi to represent Rajasthan Assembly Speaker at the HC. Matter will be heard at 3 pm

2:38 PM

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri holding press conference on civil aviation issues

2:29 PM

Villages near Guwahati have been flooded following rising water level in Brahmaputra river

2:23 PM

Rajasthan HC will hear petition filed on behalf of Sachin Pilot camp, challenging move to disqualify rebel MLAs from state assembly at 3 pm

Rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot and his 18 loyalist MLAs on Thursday moved Rajasthan High Court against Speaker C.P. Joshi's disqualification notice. The case is set for hearing at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

 

Judge Satish Chandra Sharma will appear in court for a single bench hearing via video conference. On Wednesday, Joshi issued notices after the party came in seeking their disqualification from the state assembly.

 

The former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and the other MLAs who were sacked recently were asked to respond to the notices by Friday. The notices were issued on Tuesday. Congress officials said Pilot and 18 other MLAs had defied a whip and did not attend its legislature party meetings. Meanwhile, the BJP has have questioned the whip terming it unconstitutional and illegal.

 

How can the Speaker issue a whip on MLAs for being absent. Whip is issued if MLA is absent from any discussion in assembly proceedings, said BJP state president Satish Poonia.

2:22 PM

Rupee settles 3 paise down at 75.18 (provisional) against US dollar

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Sachin Pilot camp moves Rajasthan HC, challenges notice seeking MLAs' disqualification from assembly

The Rajasthan High Court will hear Thursday afternoon a petition filed on behalf of the Sachin Pilot camp, challenging a move to disqualify dissident MLAs from the state assembly.

 

The plea against the disqualification notices sent from the Speaker's office to Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs will be heard by Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.

 

The 19 MLAs were sent notices Tuesday by the Speaker after the Congress complained that the MLAs had defied a party whip to attend two Congress Legislature Party meetings.

2:10 PM

What about 'ghar wapsi'? Sibal on Sachin Pilot's claim of not joining BJP

Taking a swipe at Sachin Pilot over his claim that he is not joining the BJP, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Thursday asked the Rajasthan leader about his plans on 'ghar wapsi'. He also asked whether Rajasthan's dissident legislators are vacationing in Haryana under the watchful eye of the saffron party.

 

Pilot was sacked by the party as Rajasthan deputy chief minister and PCC chief after he openly revolted against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

 

As speculation mounted about his next steps, Pilot said he is not joining the BJP. READ MORE...