TN leaders unhappy with verdict

Political leaders expressed dissatisfaction over the Madras High Court's split verdict on the disqualification of 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs with all of them demanding that the third judge expedite the case and give his judgement as early as possible.

“The government's expiry date has been extended by two to three months due to the verdict. This government will have to go and it will go for sure. People don't want this government any more,” Dhinakaran said, adding that his support base among the MLAs was intact and they would stay united.

The rebel leader also alleged that Chief Justice Indira Banerjee, in her order, has contradicted her own ruling in a similar case involving Puducherry Assembly Speaker.

“I appreciate the judge who has clearly stated in the judgement that the Speaker's decision is wrong. But the Chief Justice's (Indira Banerjee) verdict is in contradiction with the one she gave in a similar case involving Puducherry Speaker two months ago. I don't know the legalities involved in two cases since I am not a lawyer, but as a layperson I can see there is contradiction,” he alleged.

In his reaction, DMK working president and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly M K Stalin said: “Justice delayed is justice denied. Hope the judiciary will avoid such situation.”