HC rejects DMDK MLAs plea against suspension

Madras High Court today dismissed the petitions filed by six MLAs of actor-politician Vijaykant's DMDK challenging their March 25 last suspension from the state Assembly for one year for allegedly assaulting a dissident MLA inside the House.
Justice S Rajeswaran rejected the contention of the MLAs that the Assembly Speaker's order was arbitrary and against natural justice.
He observed that the questions raised by the MLAs had already been dealt with by the Supreme Court in Rajaram Pal's case and the High Court itself in the case of MLAs A K Bose and Vijayakanth.
There was no merit in the contention of the petitioners V C Chandirakumar (DMDK Whip), K Nallathambi, D Murugesan, S Senthilkumar, B Parthasarathy and K Arulselvan, the judge said and dismissed their petitions.

The MLAs had contended that the proceedings of the Speaker and the Privilege Committee were illegal, failed to comply with the principles of natural justice, perverse and irrational and violative of the Petitioners' statutory right under Tamil Nadu Payment of Salaries Act 1951.
The six were suspended on March 25 for allegedly assaulting C Michael Rayappan, one of the four DMDK MLAs to have called on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa last year, in February last.

The petitioners contended AIADMK MLAs also were involved in the incident (exchange of blows). But the Privilege Committee functioned arbitrarily and suspended only the DMDK members.

State Advocate General Somayaji submitted the petition was not maintainable as the Assembly Speaker had the right to regulate the proceedings of the House.
The assembly proceeded against the six MLAs for interfering in the discharge of duty by the fellow members by assault and intimidation and bring the House to disrespect.
In his ruling, Speaker P Dhanapal had said there was no need for discussion on the issue as all members were witness to what happened on February 8. The video recording of the incident was shown to the privilege panel members to ascertain the identities of those involved.

Moreover, the committee, which discussed the issue before coming out with its recommendations, had representations from various parties.