NEW DELHI, Nov 1:
The Supreme Court today deferred till November 20 the hearing of the petition of Mr P A Sangma, BJP presidential nominee challenging the election of Mr Pranab Mukherjee as President.
A five-judge constitution bench comprising Chief Justices Altamas Kabir , Justices P Sathasivam, S S Nijjar, J Chelameshwar and Rajan Gogoi adjourned the hearing on the point of maintainability of the petition when senior counsel Ram Jethmalani appearing for Mr Sangma raised certain points.
He contended that since the respondent has filed a short counter affidavit, the case cannot be heard unless the other side filed a detailed affidavit.
Senior counsel Harish Salve representing the President, however, said there was no such bar and the court can hear the matter even without a detailed affidavit.
Mr Sangma, BJP nominee who had lost to Mr Mukherjee, has challenged the election of the President on the grounds that he was holding office of profit as chairman of Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata on the day of his filing of nomination.
Mr Mukherjee has denied the allegation contending that he had already resigned from chairmanship and was not holding any office of profit on the date of filing of his nomination. (UNI)
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