SC postpones hearing TN MLAs disqualification case by 15 days

In a relief to the ruling AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (June 16) postponed hearing a case pertaining to the disqualification of 11 MLAs, including Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, by 15 days.

On February 18, 2017, all 11 MLAs in the faction, led by O Panneerselvam, voted against Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who had belonged to the faction led by the then party general secretary VK Sasikala, during a vote of confidence in the assembly. However, the ruling faction did not take any action against the MLAs.

In March, the DMK sought the disqualification of the 11 MLAs. But both the faction had later merged. Even after three years, Speaker P Dhanapal had not taken any action on the disqualification petition. So, the DMK moved the Supreme Court in February this year.

While hearing the case, the court ordered the Speaker to decide on the petition and dismissed the case on February 14. But even after four months, the Speaker has not taken any action.

Related News: COVID-19 recovery rate high in TN, says CM Palaniswami

The present petition by DMK chief whip R Sakkarapani said the Court, in its February 14 order, had given three months to make a decision on the disqualification petition. It also showed the example of Keisham Meghachandra Singh vs The Hon’ble Speaker Manipur Legislative Assembly and Others.

It was a case related to seven Congress MLAs who had switched loyalties to the BJP. The Manipur High Court had then ordered that until the Speaker of Manipur Assembly made the decision on the disqualification of the legislators, they would be barred from entering the Assembly complex.

On June 15, Palaniswami told the Speaker that the chief government whip had issued the whip only to 122 MLAs to support him during the trust vote. Whereas, the 11 MLAs, including Panneerselvam, were not issued any whip. So, taking action against those MLAs was unnecessary, he said.