Nominated BJP MLA files contempt plea in HC

A contempt plea was today filed in the Madras High Court by a nominated BJP member to Puducherry Assembly stating that he, along with two others, was not allowed to participate in the Assembly session despite a court order upholding their nomination.

The court recently held as invalid the Speaker's order cancelling the nominations of the MLAs - V Saminathan, K G Shankar and S Selvaganapathi (all BJP). They were sworn-in as MLAs by Lt Governor Kiran Bedi on July 4 last year.

V Saminathan, in his petition, submitted that the court order was served by them on the Speaker through the Legislative Assembly Secretary. They also sought arrangements to attend the Assembly session which commenced on March 26, the petitioner submitted.

However, the Speaker, in a communication to the members on the eve of the session, had said he was not heard by the court on the issue of their nomination by the Centre, Saminathan submitted.

Accordingly, he stuck to his November 12 last order, rejecting their nomination.

The speaker had taken the stand that the "natural justice was not observed" in adjudication of the issue of their nomination.

The petitioner said they were prevented by police from entering the Assembly. Even marshals did not allow them to go inside the House, he submitted.

A contempt notice was served on March 26 for which there was no response and hence the present plea was filed, the petitioner submitted.

The petitioner prayed the court to punish the Speaker and the secretary, Puducherry Assembly, for their "wilful disobedience" of the high court order.

On March 22, a bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar upheld their nomination to the Puducherry Assembly by the Centre last year and their swearing-in by Bedi.

The court ruled that an administrator of a Union Territory had powers to act irrespective of the advice by Council of Ministers.

The issue had intensified the rift between Bedi and the Congress dispensation in the Union Territory then with the latter assailing her action as unconstitutional.