The Allahabad High Court Friday dismissed a writ petition against Congress President Sonia Gandhi challenging the declarations made by her regarding educational qualifications during 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
The Lucknow bench of the high court comprising Justices Jagadish Bhalla and Dharam Veer Sharma dismissed the petition filed by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy on the grounds that it was not maintainable.
"We do not find any force in the contentions raised by the petitioner," the bench said in its order on the petition which questioned Gandhi's nomination papers filed before Rae Bareli district magistrate while contesting the polls
"We are not inclined to interfere in the matter under Article 226 of the Constitution and accordingly the petition is dismissed," the court said.
Swamy had alleged that Gandhi had committed 'perjury' by filing a wrong affidavit before the district magistrate, who was also the returning officer, regarding her educational qualifications. Swamy's counsel R A Shankdhar said he would prefer an appeal in the Supreme Court against the decision. Election Commission's counsel Ashok Nigam said the court found no merit in the petition.
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