HC notice to BJD MP on a quo warranto writ

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Tuesday issued notices to Kandhamal MP Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh on a quo warranto writ petition challenging the election of the BJD leader as she was a "citizen" of Nepal.

Taking up the petition filed by a social activist Subash Mohapatra, Justice Biswanath Rath issued notices to Singh and other respondents of the petition, including Kandhamal district collector who was the returning officer of the October 15 bypoll.

The petition said that Singh automatically disqualifies to become a member of Indian Parliament as she continues to be a citizen of Nepal.

A similar petition is pending in the High Court in which BJP leader Rudra Madhav Ray, who lost to Singh by a margin of over three lakh votes, has challenged her election on similar grounds.

The High Court is, however, yet to take cognisance of Ray's petition.