<p> <br />A single bench headed by Justice R S Rathore issued notices to the MLAs, Speaker and the state government on Monday asking them to submit their replies by November 24.<br /><br />Petitioner Sri Krishna had objected to Rajasthan Speaker Deependra Singh Shekhawat accepting the claim of the BSP legislators that they were part of the Congress after their defection on April 4 this year. The Speaker had accepted and recognised them as members of ruling Congress on April 9. <br /><br />The MLAs who defected were Giriraj Singh, Murari Lal Meena, Rajkumar Sharma, Rajendra Gudha, Ramesh Meena and Ramkesh Meena. <br /><br />Petitioner’s counsel Hemant Nahta argued that the Speaker could not pass the orders accepting claim of the MLAs without jurisdiction and hence it was null and void. <br /><br />The Speaker had the sole authority to accept or reject the claim of defecting MLAS only when it is questioned or clarifications sought, he added.<br /><br />Reason<br /><br />The BSP legislators had joined the Congress alleging that the large-scale corruption in distribution of tickets in their original party was the reason for their decision to part ways with party supremo Mayawati. <br /><br />Their decision, which obviously weakened Mayawati’s growing base in Rajasthan, proved a shot in the arm for Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who could feel relieved on stability ground. <br /><br />These MLAs had joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha poll helping the ruling Congress attain absolute majority by touching the 102- mark in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly.<br /><br />The Congress had won 96 seats in the December 2008 elections and Ashok Gehlot had formed the government with the help of BSP and independents.</p>
<p> <br />A single bench headed by Justice R S Rathore issued notices to the MLAs, Speaker and the state government on Monday asking them to submit their replies by November 24.<br /><br />Petitioner Sri Krishna had objected to Rajasthan Speaker Deependra Singh Shekhawat accepting the claim of the BSP legislators that they were part of the Congress after their defection on April 4 this year. The Speaker had accepted and recognised them as members of ruling Congress on April 9. <br /><br />The MLAs who defected were Giriraj Singh, Murari Lal Meena, Rajkumar Sharma, Rajendra Gudha, Ramesh Meena and Ramkesh Meena. <br /><br />Petitioner’s counsel Hemant Nahta argued that the Speaker could not pass the orders accepting claim of the MLAs without jurisdiction and hence it was null and void. <br /><br />The Speaker had the sole authority to accept or reject the claim of defecting MLAS only when it is questioned or clarifications sought, he added.<br /><br />Reason<br /><br />The BSP legislators had joined the Congress alleging that the large-scale corruption in distribution of tickets in their original party was the reason for their decision to part ways with party supremo Mayawati. <br /><br />Their decision, which obviously weakened Mayawati’s growing base in Rajasthan, proved a shot in the arm for Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who could feel relieved on stability ground. <br /><br />These MLAs had joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha poll helping the ruling Congress attain absolute majority by touching the 102- mark in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly.<br /><br />The Congress had won 96 seats in the December 2008 elections and Ashok Gehlot had formed the government with the help of BSP and independents.</p>
