New Delhi, Nov 9 (UNI) Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Additional Sessions Judge, Rampur to consider and dispose off Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, Azam Khan’s plea seeking stay against conviction in hate speech case tomorrow.
The Apex Court also asked the ECI (Election Commission of India) to defer issuance of gazette notification for declaring poll schedule for Rampur Constituency and issue it on or after November 11 depending on the session court’s order for stay of conviction.
The Apex Court in its order also said that the sessions judge has granted Khan interim bail on an application moved by the SP leader against his conviction.
While hearing Azam Khan’s plea against the EC’s note of stipulating scheme for bye-election of Rampur Assembly Constituency, a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chadrachud told the ECI, “These cases have cascading effects. Why don’t you hold back issuing gazette notification for 3 days?”.
“Give him (Azam Khan) an opportunity to file an appeal, otherwise it seems like what is being done is because of political affiliations he has. In situation like this, look at the alacrity of your (ECI) action. You cant pick and choose," the Supreme Court said, in its order today.
The Supreme Court passed the order after hearing the plea of senior SP leader, Azam Khan against his disqualification from the state assembly after his conviction and three-year jail sentence in a hate speech case.
UNI SM SHK 1950