The Hyderabad High Court granted relief to TRS MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh on Monday, after suspending an order issued by the Union Home Ministry cancelling his Indian citizenship.
The member of Telagana State Legislative Assembly from Vemulawada constitutency had received a letter from the central ministry to this effect last week.
The Deccan Chronicle reported that Ramesh contended that cancelling his citizenship was in violation of the Indian Citizenship Act and Article 14 of the Constitution.
He told the court, that even though he was granted citizenship by Germany in 1993, he spent most of his time in his native Karimnagar district, following which, the Centre granted him Indian citizenship in 2009, the DC report adds.
Other reports add that Ramesh even told the court that the Centre had passed the orders without even considering his application, which was submitted to the inquiry panel.
Stating that Ramesh had already filed an application to review the Centre's move, the HC said that it would suspend the order for six weeks, until the Centre takes a decision on the mater.
Last week, the Home Ministry took the action following an earlier directive of the Supreme Court to inquire into and determine the dual citizenship of the TRS MLA within six weeks.
The apex court's order came on a petition filed by Adi Srinivas, who contested election against him as the BJP candidate in 2014.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier set aside Ramesh's election on a petition by Srinivas, who alleged that Ramesh possessed citizenship of Germany.
Srinivas claimed that Ramesh had submitted fake documents, stating that he was in India for continuous one year.
The Supreme Court had stayed the High Court order and asked the Centre to inquire into Srinivas' complaint in six months. With the Home Ministry not addressing the issue even after one year, the petitioner again approached the apex court, which set the six week deadline.
The ruling party legislator maintains that he had surrendered his Indian passport and took German citizenship in 1993. However, in 2009, he applied for the Indian citizenship and was granted the same.
The Representation of People’s Act states that any person who is not an Indian citizen is not eligible to contest or vote in any election.
IANS inputs