MLAs disqualification row: Case adjourned to Monday

Citing non-action and even non-issuance of show cause notice on the members of OPS camp despite their defying the whip and voting against the government six months ago, Singhvi argued that the process adopted in disqualifying the 18 MLAs was instant but riddled with legal and factual malice.

Stating that the disqualification decision had come about on an unsigned, unnamed and unverified document forwarded by the Chief Whip to the Speaker, Singhvi also quoted various Supreme Court orders to buttress his point of natural justice taking a backseat especially with the MLAs not being heard and that the impugned disqualification order was not delivered to them, but was offered to the press and published in the gazette.

However, Justice K Ravichandrabaabu, who adjourned the case to Monday, held that the interim stay pertaining to the floor test and holding the by-election for the 18 vacancies would continue until further orders.