HC issues notice to Amarinder

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notices to Captain Amarinder Singh, former chief minister of Punjab, on a petition challenging his election from Patiala constituency.

The petition against his election was filed by Sukhbir Singh, a resident of Patiala. The petitioner had challenged the election of Amarinder Singh from the constituency on various grounds. One of the key grounds taken by the petitioner was that Amarinder Singh had not disclosed the actual expenditure incurred by him during the elections. Moreover, it was alleged by the petitioner that Amarinder had indulged in corrupt practices and had demanded setting aside of his election.

Countering the averments raised by the petitioner, Amarinder Singh had contested that the petition itself was not maintainable as the petitioner had not filed it in the High Court within the period of limitation. Amarinder Singh took the stand that according to rules, Sukhbir Singh had to file the petition by April 9 last year. The latter had filed the petition on April 16.

On the other hand, Sukhbir Singh stated that he was not able to file the petition since the High Court was closed due to vacations. The High Court on Wednesday condoned the delay and issued notices to Amarinder Singh.