SC ruling in defamation case: Wayanad to get its MP back, Rahul can contest in 2024

New Delhi: The Supreme Court order to suspend the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case will pave the way for the senior Congress leader to return to parliament several months after his disqualification as MP. Furthermore, the court verdict eliminates the need for a by-election to Gandhi’s seat, Wayanad. It will also enable the leader to contest again in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

A three-judge bench of Justices B R Gavai, P S Narasimha, and Sanjay Kumar further noted that the court considered the rights of Wayanad voters when reaching a decision in the high-profile case.

The Lok Sabha speaker can now revive his membership.

However, it may be noted that the Lok Sabha secretariat had delayed the decision on a similar case involving Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal. The NCP leader approached the court and hours before SC considering his plea, the secretariat issued an order reinstating him.

The top court was hearing a plea by Rahul challenging the Gujarat High Court verdict, which dismissed his plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the defamation case filed by Purnesh Modi over former’s “Modi surname” remark. Earlier, a lower court convicted Rahul in the defamation case and sentenced him to two years in prison. Furthermore, anyone convicted of two years or longer in prison is barred from running in elections for six years. As a result, Gandhi’s chances of running in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were in jeopardy and depended heavily on the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday.

With the ruling, Rahul could attend the discussions over the non-confidence motion moved by Opposition parties in the Parliament.

Gandhi had persistently refused to apologise for his remark but urged the Supreme Court to stay his conviction in the criminal defamation case stemming from his comment, asserting he was not guilty.