The Assembly Secretariat has issued a Gazette notification declaring a vacancy in one seat. Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, stipulates that if a person is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more, they stand disqualified from the very date of such conviction. In the case of Rajendra Bharti, as he has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, this provision applies in full force, and the legislator’s seat automatically becomes vacant. Consequently, the action taken is entirely in accordance with the law. This is not the first instance where such action has been taken; previously, the membership of Asha Rani Singh was also terminated on these very grounds following her conviction and a sentence of 10 years. Similarly, in 2019, the membership of Prahlad Lodhi was terminated following a two-year sentence, however, his membership was subsequently reinstated after he obtained a stay order from the High Court.

 

Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar stated that in his capacity as the Assembly Speaker, he has always endeavoured to function above the fray of partisan politics. The Principal Secretary of the Legislative Assembly, Arvind Sharma, returned from Delhi on Thursday night. He visited the Secretariat on Thursday night to attend urgent official duties and was accompanied by his staff as the birth anniversary of the former Assembly Speaker, Yagyadutt Sharma, is scheduled to be celebrated on Sunday, April 5. Since on Friday, April 3, marks Good Friday, and on Saturday, April 4, is a public holiday; for this reason, the Secretariat was engaged in making preparations for the event scheduled for April 5. Tomar affirmed that the court’s order has been duly complied with. He added that, going forward, the Assembly would continue to abide by whatever decisions the judiciary may render.