MLAs row: Ball in HC as SC rejects Semmalai’s plea

Panneerselvam’s supporter and former minister S Semmalai had moved the petition to separate the case demanding their disqualification from the other cases for quashing of Speaker P Dhanapal’s disqualification of 18 MLAs supporting side-lined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran. The objective of the petitions by the DMK and Dinakaran’s faction to disqualify the 12 legislators is to strengthen the case against the disqualification of 18 MLAs. 

Explaining the purpose of the petition moved by Panneerselvam’s supporters, one of the loyalists of Dinakaran said the 12 legislators could be saved from the axe only when the court rules that the Speaker does not have powers to disqualify them and such a ruling would be favourable to the 18 MLAs supporting Dinakaran too. 

On the other hand, if the Speaker’s counsel argued that he had the powers to disqualify the MLAs for anti-party activities outside the Assembly, the question why he did not act on MLAs who voted against their party in Assembly becomes more relevant, he said. 

Clubbing of the two petitions would boost the arguments of Dinakaran’s side in the hearing which would commence on November 16. The Supreme Court had rejected Semmalai’s plea and refused to stay the trial in Madras High Court demanding disqualification of 12 MLAs.