Rajasthan political crisis | Withdraw salary, benefits of Congress MLAs staying in hotels: PIL

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by one Vivek Singh Jadaun in the Rajasthan High Court seeking the withdrawal of salary and emoluments of Rajasthan MLAs who have been staying in hotels since the past month.

Several MLAs have been lodged in luxury hotels since Congress leader Sachin Pilot rebelled against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

The petition filed by Jadaun urged the high court to withdraw the salary and allowances of these Rajasthan MLAs on the ground that they are elected representatives who are making merry in hotels instead of discharging their duty.

Ashok Gehlot vs Sachin Pilot: What we know so far about the Rajasthan political crisis

 An India Today report states that Gajendra Singh Rathore, the lawyer who filed Jadaun’s petition, has pointed out how the Congress MLAs have been oblivious to their duties and responsibilities, that too, during a global health crisis.

The petition against the MLAs reads: “It is the duty of the public representative to serve the public. Rajasthan Legislative Assembly is not in session. MLAs are staying in the hotels having no connection with the public in their constituencies and are not discharging their duty as per their oath/affirmation to discharge duty as elected members of the legislative assembly. Further, no other responsible person is there to discharge duty in the absence of them. Therefore, they should not be given any salary, allowance & other benefit or any kind of allowances.”

The petition was filed before a double bench of the Rajasthan High Court and will likely be heard on August 4.