SC disposes of plea against Kheny's 2013 election

The Supreme Court on Friday disposed of a plea by an anti-corruption activist alleging corrupt practices adopted by Ashok Kheny in getting elected as MLA of Bidar south constituency in 2013.

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Hemant Gupta told petitioner T J Abraham that nothing was required to be done now, as the term of Assembly was already over and new Assembly came into existence in May 2018.

The court also told the petitioner that the ground raised by him that Kheny resorted to corrupt practices for allegedly being a US national was not covered under the provisions of the Representation of People Act.

The court also pointed out that it had already come on record that he was an Indian citizen, having valid voter ID and Aadhaar card.

Abraham, for his part, maintained that Kheny was not registered as a voter from the constituency he got elected, which could be termed as a corrupt practice.

The court, however, did not agree to his contention. It also relied upon an order passed on September 10, this year, wherein it was said the issues that have been decided by the Karnataka High Court on his petition shall not be treated as final in future litigation.

The petitioner had earlier claimed Kheny was not a citizen of India, as he had acquired the US citizenship making himself ineligible to contest any elections here.

Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 terminates citizenship of Indian national on the acquisition of the same from a foreign country, he contended.