NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the order of the Madras High Court setting aside the election of AIADMK MLA M Chandra from Rajapalayam (SC) constituency.
A Bench comprising Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta and Justice B Sudershan Reddy admitted the appeal filed by Chandra. In its order, the Bench said she could participate in the Assembly proceedings for now, but cannot vote.
She would also not be entitled to draw any emoluments till the disposal of the appeal.
The Bench directed her and the other respondents including, M Thangamuthu, who filed the election petition in the Madras High Court, to file all the necessary documents within six weeks.
In her appeal, Chandra claimed that she was born to a Christian father and a Hindu mother and that she converted to Hinduism by the Arya Samaj in Madurai in 1994. She has been following, practicing and professing Hindu religion.
She married Murugan, who belongs to the Pallan caste, which is a Scheduled Caste, on January 23, 1995. The marriage was performed as per the practice of the Pallan community and as per the Hindu customs, she stated. She added that she had contested the panchayat elections in 2001.