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All India Congress Committee Secretary Kodikunnil Suresh, whose election from the Mavelikkara (Reserved) Parliamentary constituency was declared void by the Kerala High Court, on Tuesday filed a petition seeking one month's stay on the judgment to enable him to file appeal in the Supreme Court.
When the petition came up before Justice M Shashidharan Nambiar, the court posted it for tomorrow to enable the respondents-- K S Anil Kumar and two others, to file replies. Suresh contended that he intends to file appeal before Supreme Court challenging the judgment. Parliament is in session from July 26 to Aug 27 and being a member of the SC-ST Welfare committee of Parliament, he has a vital role to play in the welfare of the members of the SC-ST community, the petitioner submitted.
If the operation of the judgment is not stayed, he would not be able to take part in the committee. He has raised starred questions in this session of the Lok Sabha.
Hence, his presence in the House was essential during question hour, he stated. Kodikunnil said he was also the Secretary of the Congress Parliamentary party. During the parliamentary session, as the secretary he has to organise and convene the meetings of MPs belonging to party to interact with ministers on vital matters in the Lok Sabha.
He is also the member of the standing committee of rural development and has an active role in the committee meetings. If the operation of the judgment is not stayed, great prejudice would be caused to public interest and to the petitioner as Member of Parliament, he submitted.
His constituency will also suffer, Suresh stated. Yesterday Justice Nambiar had set aside Kodikunnil Suresh's petition after holding that he was not entitled to claim the benefits and privileges available to the members of Scheduled Caste.