The Supreme Court on Friday stayed further proceedings in a petition challenging the election of Union Minister in the Union Cabinet, M.K. Alagiri, to the Lok Sabha from the Madurai constituency in 2009.
A Bench of Justices R.M. Lodha and H.L. Gokhale stayed until further orders, all proceedings in the petition pending before the Madras High Court and issued notice to A. Lazar, the substituted petitioner prosecuting the petition after the death of CPI (M) candidate P. Mohan.
The Bench directed listing of the matter for further hearing on April 30 after filing of response and rejoinder. Mr. Alagiri filed the present appeal contending that a substituted person who did not have a personal knowledge could not file an affidavit. The present Bench had issued notice to Mr. Lazar in January. As there was no stay, Mr. Alagiri filed an application drawing the court's attention that the Madras High Court was proceeding with the matter despite the fact that the appeal was pending in the Supreme Court.
