By IANS,
New Delhi : The clouds on the fairness of President Pranab Mukherjee’s election as head of the country cleared Wednesday as the Supreme Court by a majority judgment rejected a petition challenging the process.
The apex court special bench, headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, by a majority judgement, rejected the petition by defeated presidential candidate P.A. Sangma, who had contended that Mukherjee held an office of profit when he had filed his nomination papers.
The judgement by the chief justice was shared by Justices P. Sathasivam and S.S. Nijjar.
Justice J. Chalemeswar and and Justice Ranjan Gogoi, in their separate judgements differed with majority view and held that Sangma’s petition challenging Mukherjee election deserves regular hearing.
Gogoi said that as the chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute, Mukherjee was holding an office of profit and an application of the Provisions of Representation of People Act does not erase the disqualification.