The Union government on Wednesday submitted before the Delhi High Court that there was no violation of Constitutional provisions in the nomination of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha.
Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor-General Rajeev Mehra submitted before a Division Bench of Justices Darmar Murugesan and Rajiv Sahai Endlaw that the Constitution did not limit nomination to only experts in the fields of literature, art, science and social service.
Mr. Mehra made this submission in an affidavit which the government had earlier filed before the Allahabad High Court in response to a petition filed there challenging Mr. Tendulkar’s nomination.
He submitted a copy of that affidavit to the Delhi High Court in response to a petition by the former Delhi MLA, Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia, seeking quashing of the nomination of Mr. Tendulkar, arguing that the cricketer did not possess any of the qualifications prescribed under Article 80 (3).
As per the Article, “the members to be nominated by the President [to Rajya Sabha] under sub clause [a] of clause [1] shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: literature, science, art and social service.”
Therefore, the nomination of Mr. Tendulkar was unconstitutional, the petitioner submitted.
