Office of Profit Case: Relief to disqualified AAP MLAs, Delhi HC orders EC to not take any action before Jan 29

In a huge relief to disqualified Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Election commission of India (ECI) to not issue bypoll notification before January 29. The court issued notices to all respondents including the Election Commission on a plea filed by 8 disqualified AAP MLAs.

The High Court said that no coercive step should be taken before January 29 which is the next date of hearing. 

Eight of the 20 AAP MLAs, who were disqualified by President Ram Nath Kovind on the recommendations of the Election Commission (EC) in the office of profit case, moved the Delhi High Court on Tuesday seeking to quash the order.

The plea raised questions on the manner in which the opinion and notifications were given stating that the undue haste is arbitrary, malafide and colourable exercise of power.

The matter was urgently mentioned before a bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice A K Chawla, who posted the matter for hearing on Wednesday. The bunch of pleas would be now heard by Justice Vibhu Bhakru.

On January 21, President Ram Nath Kovind approved the disqualification of those MLAs, accused of holding the 'office of profit', after the Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 19 had recommended for the same.

Earlier on January 22, they withdrew their plea from the Delhi High Court that they had filed on January 19 after ECI's recommendation.

The Delhi High Court, on that date, refused to pass any interim order of protection to those MLAs.