SC rejects UP Lokayukta’s plea against BSP MLA membership

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere with the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court's order quashing Uttar Pradesh governor's decision disqualifying Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Uma Shankar Singh's membership.

A vacation bench of justices R K Agrawal and Amitava Roy dismissed Uttar Pradesh (UP) Lokayukta's petition challenging the Allahabad High Court May 28 judgement and seeking <g data-gr-id="23">stay</g> on its operation.

"Lokayukta has no locus <g data-gr-id="26">standi</g> to come here. The Election Commission of India (ECI) can <g data-gr-id="27">appraoch</g> us. <g data-gr-id="24">Sorry</g> we cannot interfere. Let the ECI come with their suit," the court said.

The court's oral observation came on UP Lokayukta's plea, saying the Allahabad High Court has "erred, both on law and facts, in drawing <g data-gr-id="20">adverse</g> inference against it".

Singh was disqualified by the UP Governor from the state assembly after a probe indicted him, saying he was involved in government contract even after becoming <g data-gr-id="22">member</g> of the House.

He was charged with taking government contracts even after being elected MLA from the <g data-gr-id="19">Rasra</g> seat of Ballia. However, the Allahabad High Court had passed the order of reinstating the membership of BSP MLA Singh and had rejected the argument of scrapping his membership.