Gujarat HC judge recuses himself from hearing Hardik Patel case
Saeed Khan | TNN | Mar 13, 2019, 16:19 IST
Gujarat HCAHMEDABAD: Justice R P Dholaria of Gujarat high court recused himself on Wednesday from hearing Congress leader Hardik Patel’s petition demanding stay on his July 2018 conviction recorded by a Visnagar court for rioting and vandalising office of a BJP MLA.
Patel, who has been agitating for the reservation benefits for the Patidar community, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for vandalizing BJP MLA Rishikesh Patel’s office during a rally in Visnagar on July 23, 2015.
Hardik’s appeal against the conviction was soon admitted by the high court and his sentence was suspended. His conviction was not stayed then.
Amid speculations that Patel might get a ticket from the Congress party to contest the Lok Sabha polls, he approached the high court again seeking a stay on his conviction. A stay on conviction can only enable him to contest the 2019 general elections.
As soon as Justice Dholaria said, "Not before me", Patel's advocate Rafik Lokhandwala urged the court to order the registry that the matter should be put up for hearing before another bench soon. To this, Justice Dholaria directed that the matter be placed before the appropriate bench on Friday. With this, the registry is likely to get the acting chief justice's nod for placing the case before another judge.
In July last year, a sessions court in Visnagar of Mehsana district held Hardik Patel, leader of Sardar Patel Group Lalji Patel and A K Patel guilty under sections 147, 148, 149, 427 and 435 of the Indian Penal Code for rioting, unlawful assembly, damaging property and for causing mischief by fire.
Patel, who has been agitating for the reservation benefits for the Patidar community, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for vandalizing BJP MLA Rishikesh Patel’s office during a rally in Visnagar on July 23, 2015.
Hardik’s appeal against the conviction was soon admitted by the high court and his sentence was suspended. His conviction was not stayed then.
Amid speculations that Patel might get a ticket from the Congress party to contest the Lok Sabha polls, he approached the high court again seeking a stay on his conviction. A stay on conviction can only enable him to contest the 2019 general elections.
As soon as Justice Dholaria said, "Not before me", Patel's advocate Rafik Lokhandwala urged the court to order the registry that the matter should be put up for hearing before another bench soon. To this, Justice Dholaria directed that the matter be placed before the appropriate bench on Friday. With this, the registry is likely to get the acting chief justice's nod for placing the case before another judge.
In July last year, a sessions court in Visnagar of Mehsana district held Hardik Patel, leader of Sardar Patel Group Lalji Patel and A K Patel guilty under sections 147, 148, 149, 427 and 435 of the Indian Penal Code for rioting, unlawful assembly, damaging property and for causing mischief by fire.
All Comments ()+^ Back to Top
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.
HIDE