Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha Membership Restored After Supreme Court Stay on Conviction in ‘Modi Surname’ Case

New Delhi : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has regained his status as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha, following a recent decision by the Supreme Court to suspend his conviction in a defamation case. The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a formal notification, announcing the revocation of his disqualification and the restoration of his membership.

The notification highlighted that the Supreme Court’s order dated August 4, 2023, in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 8644/2023, had stayed Rahul Gandhi’s conviction. This action effectively overturned his earlier disqualification under Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India, in conjunction with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The disqualification is no longer in effect, subject to potential future legal developments.

In response to his restored membership, the Congress party has expressed its intention to involve Rahul Gandhi as a prominent speaker in the upcoming debate on a motion of no confidence, which is scheduled to take place in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Rahul Gandhi had been disqualified as a Lok Sabha member on March 24, with retroactive effect from March 23, after a Gujarat court convicted him in a defamation case and sentenced him to a two-year jail term. However, his conviction was suspended by the Supreme Court on Friday, paving the way for his reinstated status as a representative for Wayanad in the lower house.