MLAs’ disqualification: TTV loyalists welcome change of judge

The AIADMK asserted that the change of judge would not alter the verdict since the arguments and facts had not changed in the case. Dhinakaran’s supporters said the apex court had asked the third judge to complete the case ‘as soon as possible’ and opined that the hearing would be completed in a month.

AIADMK organising secretary JCD Prabhakar said, “We have nothing to worry about the Supreme Court order changing the judge for the case against disqualification. Nothing has changed by this judgment. The facts and arguments of the case remain unchanged and the court will deliver a just verdict.”

The ruling party functionaries said the prayer for transferring the case to the Supreme Court had been rejected by the apex court and the petitioners had been asked to go back to the Madras High Court.

But, Dhinakaran’s lawyer Raja Senthoor Pandian said it was a victory for them since the judge had been changed. “We pointed out that nine months had passed since the disqualification and argued that as per the Representation of the People Act, a constituency cannot be without an elected representative for more than six months… .”

He said the court also asked them to withdraw the portions of their petition casting aspersions on the third judge S Vimala appointed earlier.