Allahabad High Court Dismisses Petition Questioning Rahul Gandhi's Citizenship. Court expresses dissatisfaction with the central government's lack of timeframe and grants the petitioner leeway.
Lucknow: Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has received significant relief from the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench. The court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) questioning his citizenship. The petition alleged that Rahul Gandhi is a British citizen and ineligible to contest elections in India.
Details of the Petition
The petition was filed by S. Vignesh Shishir, who claimed to possess documents proving Rahul Gandhi's British citizenship. He submitted emails and purported British documents to the court in support of his claim. The petition demanded a CBI investigation and the cancellation of Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary membership.
The Court's Ruling
The Lucknow bench of the High Court, comprising Justices A.R. Masoodi and Rajiv Singh, noted the central government's inability to provide a timeframe for a final decision on the matter. The court deemed that there was no justification for keeping the petition pending.
The court dismissed the petition but granted the petitioner the option to pursue alternative legal remedies. This means the petitioner can explore other legal avenues.
Observations on the Central Government
The court also observed that the central government had not provided a clear response addressing the doubts raised about Rahul Gandhi's citizenship. The government had previously been given 10 days to submit a report.
Relief for Rahul Gandhi
This decision provides relief to Rahul Gandhi, as the court has chosen not to proceed further with the case for the time being. However, technically, the matter is not entirely closed, as the petitioner retains the option to explore other legal avenues.
