Azam Khan: A big decision on Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan is expected today. A Sessions Court will give its verdict on the Rampur MLA’s plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a hate speech case. On Wednesday a Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had directed the court to hear and dispose of Khan’s application in this regard on Thursday.
Earlier, the top court had directed the Election Commission to defer the notification for the issue of notification for the bypoll in Rampur Sadar till November 10. The seat fell vacant following Azam’s disqualification. The Supreme Court disapproved the way Khan’s disqualification proceedings were conducted by the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly.
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Notification deferred
Following Supreme Court’s directions, the Election Commission deferred the issue of notification for the Rampur Sadar assembly bypoll till further orders.
The bypoll notification was scheduled to be issued on Thursday.
According to the apex court bench, the bypoll notification can be issued on or after November 11 after the sessions court decides on Azam’s plea. UP Chief Electoral Officer issued a press statement that said that the EC had decided not to issue the notification till further orders following the apex court directives.
Hate speech
Azam Khan was convicted in the hate speech case on October 27, and sentenced to three year jail by a Rampur court. The MP-MLA court in Rampur also granted bail to the MLA in the 2019 case.
The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat had announced Azam’s disqualification from the House on October 28.
The Election Commission had announced bypoll in the Rampur Sadar seat, along with Mainpuri Lok Sabha and Khatauli assembly constituencies in the state, on December 5.
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