Stories
Madras HC to Deliver Verdict Tomorrow on 6 AIADMK MLAs Resignation Case
- •The Madras High Court will deliver its verdict tomorrow on petitions challenging the Speaker's decision to accept the resignation of six AIADMK MLAs.
- •Disqualification proceedings were pending against MLAs including Maragatham Kumaravel, Sathyabama, Esakki Subbaiya, Jayakumar, M.R. Vijayabaskar, and C. Vijayabaskar for defying the whip.
- •Petitioners argued that the resignations were accepted hastily without a proper inquiry or notifying the whip, while allegations of horse-trading were raised.
- •The Speaker and MLAs argued that accepting a voluntary resignation is a constitutional duty, and the motive behind resigning cannot be questioned during its acceptance.
Key Questions Answered
The Madras High Court is set to deliver its verdict on petitions filed by AIADMK Whip Agri Krishnamurthy and National People's Power Party leader M.L. Ravi, which challenge the Assembly Speaker's decision to accept the resignations of six AIADMK MLAs who defied party whips to vote for the TVK government and faced disqualification proceedings.
Petitioners argued that the Speaker failed to conduct a meaningful inquiry to check if the resignations were genuinely voluntary, noting that the MLAs met a minister and joined the TVK within minutes of submitting their letters. Furthermore, no notice was given to the whip who filed the disqualification complaint, and concerns of horse-trading were raised.
The Speaker argued that accepting genuine handwritten resignation letters submitted of the members' own free will is a constitutional duty, and failing to do so would be improper. They maintained that motives like money or ministerial positions, along with horse-trading allegations, can only be investigated during separate disqualification proceedings rather than at the resignation acceptance stage.
