Rajasthan crisis live updates: Audio tapes need to be verified, says CM Ashok Gehlot

Audio clips on toppling Congress govt are genuine: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says he has majority in assembly, not scared of raids by central agencies

Union Ministers/MLAs/MPs give speeches so everyone knows it is their voice: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

If they think they don't trust Rajasthan government, then they can send the audio-tapes to FSL agency in the US for a voice test. They should step forward and undergo voice test: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

The audio tapes need to be verified, says Ashok Gehlot

Will convene Assembly session soon: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Sachin Pilot, 18 MLAs move plea before Raj HC to include Union govt in list of respondents

Sacked Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and 18 MLAs, who challenged notices for disqualification issued by the Rajasthan assembly speaker in the high court, moved an application before the court on Thursday to include the Union government in the list of respondents. The application was moved on the ground that Tenth Schedule's constitutional validity was under challenge and therefore, the Union of India was a necessary party now. Read more

“We are trying to find out whether this process (disqualification) was permissible or not," the court said, while questioning Joshi on the reasons for initiating disqualification proceedings against the 19 dissident Congress MLAs.

“We are not restraining the High Court from passing the order but it will be subject to the outcome of the petition (of Speaker) before the Supreme Court,” the bench said, while fixing the plea for hearing on July 27.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra, B R Gavai and Krsihna Murari said Joshi's plea raises important questions and requires prolonged hearing.

Voice of dissent in a democracy cannot be shut down: Supreme Court to Rajasthan Speaker

“Voice of dissent in a democracy cannot be shut down”, the Supreme Court said on Thursday as it questioned Rajasthan assembly Speaker CP Joshi on the reasons for initiating disqualification proceedings against 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. The top court's observation came when senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Joshi, listed the reasons for starting disqualification proceedings and said that these MLAs did not attend party meetings and conspired to destabilise their own government. Read more

From Monday, SC will start day to day hearing on the Speaker's plea questioning Rajasthan HC's jurisdiction and ancillary question of silencing dissent with disqualification.

SC said it is an important question relating to future of democracy - whether dissenting views could be silenced through disqualification proceedings initiated by Speaker. This needs to be decided, it said.

SC says the issue is tricky and needs prolonged hearing. Speaker told the SC that till SC decided the issue he would not proceed with the hearing on disqualification pleas against 19 rebel MLAs, including Sachin Pilot.

However, SC says that the HC order will not be implemented as the SC is seized of the question raised by Speaker on the HC jurisdiction to entertain plea against Speaker's notice to rebel Congress MLAs.

SC says Rajasthan HC can pass orders on rebel Cong MLAs's plea against disqualification notice from Speaker.

Trying to find out whether disqualification process against MLAs was permissible or not: SC on Raj Speaker's plea

Issue whether disqualification process against MLAs is permissible or not cannot be taken note of at this stage: Raj Speaker to SC