High Court issues notice to Congress president Sonia Gandhi

Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday issued notice to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on a petition challenging her election from Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency.

Justice Tarun Agarwal of the bench issued the notice on the petition filed by Ramesh Singh, a voter of Rae Bareli, seeking direction for quashing her election.

The court ordered for listing the petition on September 8. In its order, the court said, "Admit. Issue notice to respondent no. 1 and 2 that is Smt. Sonia Gandhi and another (union of India) by ordinary process as well as by registered post..."

"List for orders on 8th September, 2014 by which time the said respondents will file the written statements together with a list of documents which the respondents intend to rely as evidence in support of their defence."

Petitioner's counsel H S Jain told PTI that two main issues have been raised in the petition. Firstly Gandhi is yet to give up her citizenship of Italy and secondly, Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Ahmed Bukhari, had appealed in favour of the Congress after the announcement of election dates.

The petitioner said this was wrong in the spirit of law and Gandhi's election should be declared null and void.