The Supreme Court today beganhearing former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma's plea challengingthe election of Pranab Mukherjee as President.
A constitution bench headed by Chief Justice AltamasKabir posted the matter for further consideration on November20 when it will give a chance to various parties for raisingpreliminary arguments on maintainability of the petitionbefore issuing notice in the matter.
During the preliminary hearing, Sangma will argue to showthere was a "cause of action" for filing the petition.
After the preliminary hearing on maintainability, thebench also comprising justices P Sathasivam, S S Nijjar, JChelameswar and Ranjan Gogoi will decide whether the matter isfit for the regular hearing.
While senior advocate Ram Jethmalani appeared for Sangma,the President was represented by senior advocate Harish Salve.
Attorney General G E Vahanvati was assisting the court asa necessary party under the Supreme Court Rules in suchmatters.
In his petition, Sangma has said the veteran Congressleader was not eligible for the post as he was holding officesof profit on the date of filing nomination for the President'selection.
Sangma has contended that Mukherjee was holding offices ofprofit as chairman of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI),Kolkata and as also the leader of the Congress Party in LokSabha when he had entered the Presidential race.
The tribal leader from Meghalaya, who had lost thePresidential poll, has sought a direction for setting asideMukherjee's election as President and declaring him as electedto the post.