SC admits petition on Sonia Gandhi

The Supreme Court on Friday admitted a petition questioning whether a person of foreign origin can hold public office.

A bench comprising Justices H L Dattu and C K Prasad also favoured expediating hearing on the issue which was raised by Rashtriya Mukti Morcha a socio-political organisation.

RMM has filed an appeal challenging a Delhi high court's verdict that had dismissed the petition filed against Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the ground being of Italian origin she is not entitled to hold any constitutional post.

The RMM, in its petition, had taken exception to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi being invited to form government at the Centre by the then President in 1999 after NDA lost a no-confidence motion in Parliament.

The apex court had in April, 2007, issued notices to the Centre and the Election Commission on the issue.

However, the Centre did not file any affidavit and asked the apex court to post the matter for final hearing. The Election Commission had said that its stand will be the same as that of the Centre.