Rahul Gandhi gets MP seat back, can contest polls as Supreme Court pauses conviction

Digital Desk; In a massive relief for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Supreme Court today paused Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case from 2019 involving his comments on the "Modi" surname. With this, Rahul Gandhi's status as a Member of Parliament, which was disqualified following his conviction, stands restored. He can also contest elections.

Rahul Gandhi had been found guilty and given a two-year term by a Surat court on March 23. He represented Kerala's Wayanad seat in the Lok Sabha till he was disqualified the next day.

The Supreme Court declared on Friday that the Surat court had not provided justification for giving Rahul Gandhi the maximum penalty. The decision of conviction must be stayed pending final adjudication, a three-judge bench of Justices BR Gavai, PS Narasimha, and Sanjay Kumar ruled. "No reason has been given by the trial judge for imposing the maximum sentence."

Additionally, it noted that the "ramifications of the trial court's order were broad" and that both Gandhi's right to continue serving the public and the people who elected him were impacted by the decision.

The Congress leader's "utterances were not in good taste," the highest court remarked, adding that one in public life is supposed to "exercise caution while making public speeches." The court was referring to Gandhi's "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remark made during an election rally in Kolar, Karnataka, in April 2019.

The Supreme Court's decision was applauded by the Congress, which stated that it had "re-established the faith of the common people in the Supreme Court, in democracy, in constitutionalism, and in the principle that truth shall prevail."

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a Congress MP, reported that he had met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and requested that he immediately restore Rahul Gandhi's position as a Member of Parliament so he could take part in the no-confidence motion proceedings on August 8 and 10.

 Chowdhury stated that, "We have met the Lok Sabha Speaker and asked him that Rahul Gandhi's membership must be restored so that he can take part in no-confidence motion proceedings."

Chowdhury stated that after receiving a copy of the Supreme Court order, the Speaker would make a decision.