Citizenship issue: Odisha HC issues notice to Kandhamal BJD MP

Odisha Sun Times Bureau:
Cuttack, December 17:

The Odisha High Court on Tuesday served a notice on Kandhamal BJD MP Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh on a quo warranto writ petition challenging her election to Lok Sabha on the ground that she was a “citizen” of Nepal. The court also issued notices to others asking them to respond to the petition as to why she should not be disqualified.

Hearing a petition filed by social activist Dr Subash Mohapatra, Justice Biswanath Rath issued notices to Pratyusha, Election Commission of India, State Election Officer, Lok Sabha Speaker, State and Union Home departments and Kandhamal and Nayagarh district collectors.

Pratyusha, widow of late Hemendra Singh, had won the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat in the October 15 by poll defeating BJP’s Rudra Madhab Ray by a margin of over three lakh votes.

Notably, Ray has filed a similar petition in the High Court challenging her election on the same grounds. However, the court is yet to take up Ray’s petition.

The petition said that according to Representation of People Act, Singh is automatically disqualified from becoming a Member of Parliament as she continues to be a citizen of Nepal.