New Delhi: The Nainital High Court today reserved its order on the plea of 9 rebel Congress MLAs' challenging Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal decision to disqualify them from the Assembly. The court said that it will pronounce its verdict at 10 am on May 9.
“The hearing has been concluded. I will pronounce the judgement at 10.15 am on May 9,” Justice UC Dhyani said in brief remarks to counsel at the conclusion of nearly three hours of arguments on both sides.
The 9 rebel Congress MLAs, who were disqualified by the Speaker on March 27, had filed two separate petitions in the High Court challenging the Speaker’s action against them.
The MLAs had moved the High Court on two grounds that they were not given enough time by the Speaker to respond to the charges, and that they were not provided ‘proof’ of their alleged anti-party activity.
All the 9 MLAs were disqualified from the assembly under the anti-defection law but eight of them have challenged the Speaker’s decision in the court.
Also Read: SC orders Uttarakhand floor test on May 10
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court yesterday paved the way for ousted chief minister Harish Rawat to prove his majority on the floor of the House on May 10. The apex court ordered that the floor test will be undertaken between 11-11:30am and the 9 disqualified Congress MLAs will not be allowed to vote.
If the rebels are disqualified, the House strength comes down to 61. The Congress, with 27 legislators, may then win the trust vote if the six MLAs from smaller parties and independents back it. The BJP has 28 MLAs.
