NEW DELHI, March 23 - In a major relief to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Delhi High Court today restored the membership of 20 disqualified MLAs of Delhi�s ruling party, quashing the Election Commission recommendation in the office-of-profit case as �vitiated� and in violation of natural justice.
While setting aside the recommendation and the consequent Presidential order, the court at the same time directed the poll panel to hear the matter afresh, observing no oral hearing was given to the MLAs before disqualifying them as legislators of the Delhi Assembly.
The disqualification had reduced AAP�s strength in the 70-member Delhi Assembly from 66 to 46 but it did not pose a threat to the government as it continued to enjoy a majority.
A jubilant Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hailed the reinstatement of the MLAs, saying it was a �victory of truth� even as his party alleged that the EC�s recommendation to disqualify 20 of its MLAs was a serious attempt to dislodge an elected government and demanded that the election commissioners either �resign� or �apologise� .
�It is a victory of truth. The elected representatives were wrongfully disqualified. The high court has given justice to the people of Delhi. It is their victory. Congratulations to the people of Delhi,� Kejriwal tweeted minutes after the HC order. � PTI
