Court dismisses plea against Haryana CM Khattar

Chandigarh, November 10

A petition questioning the continuation of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for allegedly violating the solemn oath to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law following “dangerous speech” was today dismissed as withdrawn.

As the petition filed against the Union of India and other respondents came up for hearing before Justice Raj Mohan Singh, the counsel for Chander Shekhar and other petitioners expressed wish to withdraw the present petition with liberty to file fresh plea with better particulars. The counsel for the Union of India and the State told the Bench that they had no objection to the same. “Dismissed as withdrawn with the liberty aforesaid,” Justice Raj Mohan Singh concluded.

Contention

Farmers have the right to protest guaranteed under the Constitution. Khattar’s video amounts to crushing the agitation so that he is able to please political bosses in New Delhi. —Petitioners

The petitioners had earlier contended: “The farmers’ agitation is the right to protest guaranteed under the Constitution and Khattar’s video amounts to crushing the agitation by force so that he is able to please the political bosses sitting in New Delhi. His action shows that he considers him above the law and under the wrong impression that he is a ruling emperor of the state of Haryana. The said speech takes away the constitutional authority vested in Khattar to continue as CM.”