7 hrs ago
Rajasthan High Court Stays Councillors’ Arrests Before Civic Polls
The Rajasthan High Court held an unusual hearing late at night.
Several councillors were worried that police cases could lead to their arrests.
They said this might stop them from taking part in upcoming civic elections.
The court temporarily protected nine councillors from Hanumangarh and one from Bikaner.
It also protected two other councillors in separate orders.
The court’s protection does not end the cases, but it prevents arrests for now.
The elections include votes for mayors and chairpersons in several Rajasthan towns and cities.
Political parties say the timing of the cases has created pressure before the elections.
The Rajasthan High Court held a special hearing from Sunday night into early Monday ahead of civic leadership elections.
The court granted interim protection from arrest to nine Hanumangarh councillors and Congress councillor Maqsood Ahmed of Bikaner.
The petitions argued that arrests could prevent councillors from voting or participating in the civic elections.
The court also stayed the arrests of Tejpal Mirdha in Nagaur and Sushil Meedha from Shrivijaynagar.
The orders came amid political allegations that councillors were facing pressure through cases before mayoral and chairperson elections.
- Who
- The Rajasthan High Court, including Benches led by Justice Nupur Bhati and Justice Sunil Beniwal, heard petitions from councillors.
- What
- The court granted interim protection from arrest to several councillors ahead of civic leadership elections.
- Where
- The proceedings took place before the Rajasthan High Court and concerned councillors from Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Nagaur and Shrivijaynagar.
- When
- The hearing began around 10 p.m. on Sunday and continued into the early hours of Monday; related orders were issued earlier Sunday.
- Why
- The councillors feared arrest could prevent them from participating in voting and elections for mayoral and chairperson posts.
Key facts
- Late-night hearing
- The special proceedings ran from about 10 p.m. Sunday until the early hours of Monday.
- Immediate protection
- Nine Hanumangarh councillors and one Bikaner councillor received interim protection from arrest.
- Additional councillors
- The court also stayed the arrests of Tejpal Mirdha in Nagaur and Sushil Meedha from Shrivijaynagar.
- Bikaner petitioner
- Congress councillor Maqsood Ahmed sought protection in connection with an old police case.
- Hanumangarh civic body
- The civic body has 60 seats; the BJP won 15, while about 32 councillors from Independent MLA Ganesh Bansal’s camp won.
- Upcoming elections
- Mayoral elections in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota are scheduled for September 25, alongside chairperson elections in other urban local bodies.
Sources
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