Sorabji-Nariman to fight over MGP petition
Sandesh
Prabhudesai
1 August 2007
The Supreme Court will hear
on 6 August the petitions filed by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the
Bharatiya Janata Party, challenging the order of the Goa assembly speaker to restrain
two MGP MLAs from voting in the House on 30 July.
Speaker Pratapsing Rane
had restrained Sudin and Dipak Dhavalikar as well as Congress MLA Victoria Fernandes
from taking part in the proceedings of the House or vote, before the trust vote
was moved by chief minister Digambar Kamat.
Due to this, the strength of
the Goa Democratic Alliance led by BJP leader Manohar Parrikar had reduced to
18, against the Congress-led alliance of 18, excluding the speaker.
The
trust vote was then passed by voice vote.
The petitions seeking stay of
Speakers July 30 interim order were mentioned by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi
before a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.
Senior advocate
Fali S Nariman, who was present in the court said he would be appearing for the
Speaker.
Senior lawyer Soli Sorabji is also likely to appear for the petitioners.
The
petitions filed by the MGP and BJP MLAs has alleged that the interim order of
Speaker was unconstitutional and undemocratic as there was blatant violation of
natural justice and fair play.
They said the order was passed on the disqualification
petition filed by Congresss MLA Agnelo Fernandes against the MLAs who had decided
to support the BJP-led Goa Democratic Alliance by Congress MLA Agnelo Fernandes.
The
MLAs contended that the Speaker's order requires to be set aside as they were
not even served with the copies of the disqualification.
They have also
questioned the Speakers decision to hold voice vote on the Motion of Confidence.
The
petitions moved in this regard have sought a stay on the speaker's order and also
a direction for holding a fresh floor test.
The petitions were filed today
morning.
(With PTI inputs)
Your
Comments Please
