Blow to Hardik Patel: SC denies early hearing

New Delhi: With just two days left for filing of nominations to Lok Sabha polls, the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to grant urgent hearing to Congress leader Hardik Patel’s plea challenging the Gujarat high court order rejecting stay on his conviction in the 2015 Vispur rioting case.

When the matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Justices Arun Mishra, M. M. Shantanagoudar and Navin Sinha, Justice Mishra told the counsel appearing for Mr Patel that there was no urgency in hearing the matter as the Gujarat high court order was passed in August last year.

“The order was passed in August 2018. What is the urgency now?” the bench said while refusing to agree with the submissions for early listing of the appeal against the HC verdict. In view of the court’s refusal to hear before April 4, the chan-ces of Mr Patel contesting the polls has become bleak  

Patidar leader who joined the Congress was preparing to contest from Jamnagar constituency and the last date for filing of nominations is April 4. He sought suspension of his conviction in a case relating to rioting so that he can contest the upcoming elections.

Patel has approached the Supreme Court after the Gujarat high court rejected his plea in the matter. Patel was convicted in a case of rioting and arson by a lower Court in Mehasana and was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

The case dates back to the Patidar protests in 2015 for reservation. He approached the Gujarat HC seeking suspension of his conviction so that he can contest polls. This plea was, however, rejected by the high court.

Mr Patel has challenged the HC’s decision on the ground that an appellate court ought to consider the consequences if the conviction is not suspended. In this case, rejection of his plea would cause him an “irreparable loss.”

He submitted that in a case for suspension of conviction, the court is required to look into the broad features and the evidence available on record.