Rajasthan speaker asks Supreme Court to stop high court hearing

IN GOOD TIMES: Ashok Gehlot (left) with Sachin Pilot

The Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi on Wednesday requested the Supreme Court to stop the High Court from delivering any verdict on the petition by Sachin Pilot and 18 more Congress rebels challenging disqualification notices from him.

The Speaker also challenged the High Court’s order asking him to pause any action against the rebels until its decision on Friday, adding that he had decided to go to the Supreme Court to avert “a constitutional crisis” and a confrontation with the judiciary on his powers.

Earlier Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday told the Speaker not to move forward on the disqualification notices till Friday when the judges are expected to deliver its ruling.

Sachin Pilot and 18 lawmakers close to him were issued disqualification notices last week on a complaint from the Congress that has accused them of trying to topple the Ashok Gehlot government.

CP Joshi announced his decision to move the Supreme Court at a press conference where he warned that they were “heading for a constitutional crisis”.