Opinion June 13, Forty Years Ago: The verdict

The Allahabad High Court set aside Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s election to the Lok Sabha, said a report.

In a momentous judgment “that is likely to be a landmark in India’s history”, the Allahabad High Court set aside Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s election to the Lok Sabha, said a report. Justice J.M.L. Sinha also debarred her from contesting any election under the Representation of the People Act for six years, but stayed the operation of the judgment for 20 days. He held Gandhi guilty of obtaining the assistance of gazetted government officers, including Yashpal Kapoor, who was working as an officer on special duty with the PM’s secretariat. The court also ordered her to pay legal costs to the petitioner, Raj Narain.

Congress unfazed
The lead report was on the Congress’s response to the high court verdict. Indira Gandhi ruled out resigning and said she would appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court. After meeting party leaders, cabinet colleagues, chief ministers and legal experts, she said that “given the faith of the people” she would continue to work towards “the goal of eradicating poverty and establishment of a new society”. In an ominous sign of things to come, Congress-affiliated youth in Calcutta staged a march raising the slogan, “We will not respect the Allahabad High Court judgment”. The Opposition announced a seven-point programme to force her to resign. Opposition leaders said propriety demanded that she quit immediately.

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Janata in Gujarat
The five-party Janata Front was leading in the Gujarat assembly elections, winning 78 of the 163 seats declared by 2 am, when the newspaper was put to bed. The Congress won 60 seats. Former Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel was among the prominent losers.

Dhar no more
India’s ambassador to the USSR, D.P. Dhar, died in Delhi. Mourners led by J&K Chief Minister Sheikh Abdullah received the body in Srinagar, where he was cremated.