Jaipur: Rebel leader and former Deputy CM of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot has moved the Rajasthan High Court along with 18 other MLAs against the disqualification notices issued by Rajasthan Speaker.

The hearing of the petition will take place at 3 pm today.

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi had confirmed that disqualification notices were sent out Tuesday following complaints from Congress party.

As the rebels were unavailable, the Congress sent notices via SMS, WhatsApp, email and post and even pasted documents in Hindi and English on walls outside the homes of the rebels to make sure they get the message.

They have been asked to explain anti-party activities or face disqualification if they don’t come up with a satisfactory reply by Friday.

As per sources, Pilot had approached senior Congress leader and noted lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi to take up his case, but was told it would “not be ethical”.

Political pundits believe that the disqualification of the rebels help CM Ashok Gehlot as this will bring down the  majority-mark in a floor test. If the rebels can avoid it and vote as Congress members, Gehlot’s government could fall.

Meanwhile, the BJP has have questioned the whip terming it unconstitutional and illegal.

How can the Speaker issue a whip on MLAs for being absent. Whip is issued if MLA is absent from any discussion in assembly proceedings, said BJP state president Satish Poonia.