Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reinstates Rahul Gandhi's membership as Wayanad MP

Rahul Gandhi returns to Parliament: Lok Sabha Secretariat on Monday restored the membership of Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi after the Supreme Court on August 4 stayed his conviction in the ‘Modi’ surname remark case.

The Congress leader who was disqualified from the lower house in March 2023 was reinstated as the Wayanad MP.

Also Read: Modi surname case: SC stays conviction of Rahul Gandhi in defamation case

Notification issued by Lok Sabha secretariat states, “In continuation of Notification No. 21/4(3)/2023/TO(B), dated the 24th March, 2023, the Supreme Court of India has passed an order on 04.08.2023 in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 8644/2023, staying the conviction of Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, which was ordered by the judgment date 23.03.2023 of the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat in C.C./ 18712/2019."

"In view of order dated 04.08.2023 of the Supreme Court of India, the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, notified vide Gazette Notification no. 21/4(3)/2023/TO(B) dated the 24th March, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, has ceased to operate subject to further judicial pronouncements," it added.

Rahul Gandhi gets breather 

In a major relief for Rahul Gandhi, Supreme Court on August 4 stayed the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the criminal defamation case over 'Modi surname' remark. 

Supreme Court while granting relief to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says ramifications of the trial court’s order are wide. Not only was Gandhi’s right to continue in public life affected but also that of the electorate who elected him, says Supreme Court.

There is no doubt that utterances are not in good taste, person in public life is expected to exercise caution while making public speeches, says Supreme Court. As observed by this court while accepting his affidavit in the contempt petition, he (Rahul Gandhi) ought to have been more careful.

The apex court issued notices to the Gujarat government and the complainant in July on an appeal of the Congress leader challenging the Gujarat High Court order.

 The Gujarat HC had in its order declined to stay his conviction in the criminal defamation case in which Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail by the Surat court over the 'Modi surname' remark.

In March, the magisterial court convicted Rahul Gandhi for his ‘Modi’ surname remarks ahead of the 2019 national polls.