Madras HC upholds disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs

The Madras High Court on Thursday delivered the verdict in the case relating to the disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs, owing allegiance to rebel leader T T V Dhinakaran, pronouncing their disqualifaction as valid.

Justice M Sathyanarayanan announced the verdict after hearing the pleas after a bench of then Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar gave a split verdict on the matter on June 14.

The 18 AIADMK MLAs were disqualified on September 18 last year under the anti-defection law after they met the Governor and expressed loss of confidence in Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

In view of the split verdict with Indira Banerjee upholding the disqualification and Justice Sundar setting it aside, Justice S Vimala was appointed to hear the petitions afresh.

However, the apex court named Justice Sathyanarayanan, while declining to accept a prayer of the disqualified MLAs who raised apprehension of "bias" and sought to transfer the matter to the apex court.