Speaker reserves orders in JD(S) rebel MLAs' disqualification case

Legislative Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad on Monday reserved his ruling after conducting a hearing on a petition filed by the JD(S), seeking disqualification of its seven rebel MLAs.

During the hearing, the petitioners appealed to the Speaker to dispose of the petition immediately, as the seven MLAs had announced to vote in favour of the Congress candidate during the Rajya Sabha polls on March 23.

Koliwad, however, said that it was not binding on him to pass the orders immediately. "Is it possible to say when the judge will give his verdict. I am the judge, you can't question me," he shot back at reporters who asked him when the case would be disposed of.

"I have kept orders reserved. I am also like a High Court judge. Can you ask the judge when he/she will pass the judgment? The JD(S) is free to move the court," he added.

He said there was no connection between the disqualification petition before him, and the Rajya Sabha polls.

Of the seven MLAs summoned by the Speaker, only four -- B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, N Cheluvarayaswamy, H C Balakrishna and Akhanda Srinivasmurthy, showed up for the hearing with their counsel.

Last weekend, the JD(S) had urged the Speaker to dispose of the matter immediately. If not, the party had said that it would be forced to initiate legal action in the matter. The party had suspended the MLAs for flouting the party whip and voting in favour of the Congress during the 2016 Rajya Sabha polls.