Supreme Court Stays Disqualification of Mukul Roy
The Supreme Court has delivered a significant legal reprieve to veteran politician Mukul Roy. On Friday, the top court stayed a previous order by the Calcutta High Court that had disqualified him as a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. This development brings a temporary halt to the long-standing legal battle regarding his political affiliation and status as a legislator.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued this interim stay while hearing a petition filed by Mukul Roy’s son, Subhranshu Roy. The court noted that the matter requires deeper examination, especially concerning the authenticity of electronic evidence. The Chief Justice pointed out that in the current age of artificial intelligence, digital evidence like videos must be strictly verified before being used for disqualification.
The case dates back to 2021 when Mukul Roy, having won his seat on a BJP ticket, reportedly moved back to the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Opposing leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, had approached the Speaker and later the High Court seeking his removal under the anti-defection law. While the High Court had ruled against him last year, the Supreme Court has now put that decision on hold.
Legal representatives for Roy argued that the High Court had exceeded its power by acting as a primary tribunal. They also highlighted that proper procedures for verifying social media screenshots and video clips were not followed. The court has now granted four weeks for the opposing parties to file their responses. Until then, Mukul Roy retains his position in the Assembly.
This ruling is being seen as a crucial moment for legislative procedures across India. It emphasizes the need for high standards of proof when dealing with the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. For the people of his constituency, the decision means their elected representative continues to hold office while the highest court in the land reviews the legalities of the defection charges.
