SC Grants Interim Relief To BJP MLA Dasanglu Pul Whose Election Was Declare ‘Void’

The Supreme Court recently granted interim relief to Dasanglu Pul, a BJP MLA from Arunachal Pradesh, whose election to the assembly was declared void by the Gauhati High Court.

A bench of Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Sanjay Karol ordered that no bye-elections be held in the constituency she represents in the meantime, while posting the matter for further hearing on 6 September, 2023.

The bench also observed that Pul will be entitled to  all privileges as Member of the Legislative Assembly and to participate in all the proceedings in the House and in the Committees.

However, she will not be able to vote on the House Floor or in any of the Committees in which she serves as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Dasanglu Pul, former Chief Minister Kalikho Pul’s widow, was elected to the Hayuliang Assembly constituency in 2019.

The High Court passed the order on an election petition filed by her opponent in the election, Lupalam Kri, who claimed she failed to disclose six properties owned by her late husband on the election nomination form.

The Court declared her election invalid because she had not presented her nomination paper in accordance with Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and it was therefore subject to rejection.