SC to consider A Raja’s petition challenging disqualification on April 28

New Delhi: The Supreme Court postponed the hearing on the petition filed by A Raja challenging the Kerala High Court order which annulled his election to the Devikulam constituency. A bench comprising justice Sudhanshu Duliya and Arvind Kumar said that the petition will now be considered on April 28 as per the request made by the lawyers. 

A Raja's request for a stay on the High Court order until the next hearing of the petition has been rejected by the Supreme Court. Despite Raja's lawyer highlighting the possibility of a by-election in Devikulam, the apex court has dismissed those claims.

During the hearing, Senior lawyer KV Viswanath and Advocate G Prakash argued that the high court had declared the election void without examining the official documents. They also claimed that A Raja's ancestors had migrated to Kerala before 1950, making him eligible for reservation. On the other hand, Advocate Aljo K Joseph, who represented the Congress candidate D Kumar, said that A Raja had concealed certain documents that confirm his religion. They produced evidence indicating that Raja's marriage was conducted according to Christian customs. In response, Justice Sudhanshu Duliya suggested that even though Raja might be a Hindu in his certificate, he may have been living his life according to Christian beliefs. However, the lawyer who represented Raja refuted this claim.

The Supreme Court observed that no clear verdicts exist regarding the caste-based reservation accorded to those who migrated from Tamil Nadu to Kerala before the formation of state.