Pranab urges SC to dismiss Sangma plea

Urging the Supreme Court to dismiss a challenge to his election,President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday sought dismissal of a petition by former Speaker P A Sangma at the preliminary stage itself.

Mukherjee has described the allegations against him of holding offices of profit at the time of filing his nomination papers as untenable,misconceived and frivolous and that he could not hence have been disqualified under the constitutional provisions. Mukherjee told the court that on June 20,he had resigned not only as chairman,Indian Statistical Institute,Kolkata,but also from the Congress and as Leader of the House in Lok Sabha,besides several other posts.

Sangma,who lost the Presidential election,contended that the election of Mukherjee was illegal since the President was holding the offices-of-profit as chairman ISI and leader of the Congress legislative party in the Lok Sabha at the time of filing the nomination papers.