High Court order disqualifying Indira Gandhi was historic: CJI

The order of High Court Judge Jagmohanlal was courageous

The Allahabad High Court's order was followed by a crisis in the country, which shook the country.

Prayagraj: Chief Justice NV Ramanna has termed the Allahabad High Court's order disqualifying former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 as "brave". Speaking at a function in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Ramanna recalled the order and praised it.

Ramanna said that in 1975, the then Judge of the Allahabad High Court, Jagmohanlal Sinha, issued an order which, after its effect, led to the imposition of a state of emergency in the country by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and shook the entire country. The order to disqualify the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was very bold.

The Chief Justice said the Allahabad High Court has a history of more than 150 years. The Allahabad Bar and Bench has given some of the country’s greatest law expert veterans. The first Speaker of the Constituent Assembly, Dr. Sachchidanand Sinha, Pandit Motilal Nehru, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Purushottam Das Tandon have all been members of this bar. The famous Chaurichora case was appealed before this High Court by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.

It may be recalled that on June 12, 1975, the then Judge of the Allahabad High Court, Jagmohanlal Sinha, disqualified the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi under the Representative of the People Act and ordered her not to hold any elected office. Indira Gandhi was convicted of using government machinery to win elections.