HC asks speaker to decide on JD(S) rebel MLAs disqualification issue

Bengaluru: In a verdict delivered by the High Court of Karnataka, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly was ordered to decide on the appeal filed by the Janta Dal (Secular) on or before May 27. The plea sought to disqualify seven MLAs for violating the whip issued to vote for the party’s candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections in 2016.

A vacation Division Bench consisting of Justice B. Veerappa and Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav passed the verdict, directing the Speaker to take a decision on the matter before the term of the speaker expires on May 27. The order also disposed the appeals filed by the Speaker and the seven former MLAs, against another verdict which asked for a decision on or before May 7.

The seven former MLAs are B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, N. Cheluvarayaswamy, A.B. Ramesh Bandisidde Gowda, H.C. Balakrishna, Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, Iqbal Ansari and S. Bheema Naik- all of whom had resigned from their position when the appeal was pending.

The Division Bench has upheld most of the findings of the judge in the earlier verdict, which had pointed out that the High Court has the power to request the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to dispose of the petition for disqualification in the interest of justice and to maintain the majesty of the office of the Speaker of the Assembly, according to Article 226 of the Indian Constitution.

The Bench said, “We hope and trust that the Speaker shall decide the plea for disqualification expeditiously and in terms of the memo.”