The Kerala High Court on Tuesday adjourned to July 28 the hearing on a petition filed by Congress leader Kodikunnil Suresh seeking to stay the operation of the court's verdict declaring his election from the Mavelikara Lok Sabha constituency void.
Justice M. Sasidharan Nambiar had on Monday set aside his election on the ground that he did not belong to any of the Scheduled Castes. The court found that his parents were converted Christians.
In his petition, Mr. Suresh sought to stay the operation of the verdict as he intended to file an appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court. He pointed out that Parliament was in session till August 27. He was a member of the Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes Welfare Committee of Parliament. If the judgment was not stayed, he would not be able to take part in the committee's meetings. Besides, he had raised starred questions in the Lok Sabha. Therefore, his presence was essential during question hour. Since he was secretary of the Congress Parliamentary Party, he was to organise and convene meetings of Congress MPs, interact with Ministers on vital matters and ensure attendance of his party MPs. Besides, he was a member of the Standing Committee for Rural Development.
Mr. Suresh said that if the operation of the judgment was not stayed, great prejudice would be caused to public interest and to him as an MP. The interests of the constituency would also suffer, he added.
