The Allahabad High Court has delivered a significant judgment by dismissing a petition that sought to invalidate Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s 2024 Lok Sabha election from the prestigious Rae Bareli constituency. The petition, filed by an advocate, argued that Gandhi’s earlier conviction in a high-profile defamation case should have resulted in his immediate disqualification under the Representation of the People Act (RPA), thereby making his electoral victory invalid.
In a detailed order, a division bench comprising Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Manjive Shukla rejected the claim, observing that the petitioner had failed to consider a crucial legal development: the Supreme Court’s stay on Gandhi’s conviction. The judges emphasised that once a conviction is stayed by the apex court, the punitive consequences attached to it—including disqualification from contesting elections—are effectively placed in suspension. Therefore, the legal foundation of the challenge was fundamentally flawed.
The bench also pointed out that the petitioner did not raise any new or substantial question of law that warranted interference by the High Court. They underlined that the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to stay Gandhi’s conviction had already settled the matter, as such a stay removes the immediate legal disabilities arising from the conviction. The High Court noted that unless the stay is overturned, the conviction cannot legally influence the validity of Gandhi’s nomination or subsequent victory.
The plea further alleged that Gandhi’s candidature itself was invalid and that the Election Commission should not have permitted him to contest. The court rejected these assertions, reiterating that electoral authorities had acted within the law, given the Supreme Court’s order. It also noted that appeals and convictions in criminal cases do not automatically translate to disqualification unless specifically enforced and not stayed.
With the dismissal of the petition, Rahul Gandhi’s election from Rae Bareli—a constituency long held by members of the Gandhi family—stands reaffirmed. The decision not only upholds his mandate but also reinforces an important legal principle: a stayed conviction cannot be treated as operative for the purpose of disqualification under the RPA.
Legal analysts believe the judgment brings clarity to recurring debates surrounding criminal convictions and electoral eligibility. It also underscores the judiciary’s consistent stance that only an active and un-stayed conviction can trigger disqualification, ensuring that electoral outcomes are not disrupted by unresolved or pending criminal proceedings.
The ruling marks yet another chapter in the legal battles surrounding Rahul Gandhi over the past few years, and it puts to rest, at least for now, attempts to challenge his renewed presence in Parliament.
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