New Delhi: Goa's speaker Rajesh Patnekar will pass orders on the disqualification petition filed against 13 BJP MLAs (earlier with Congress) on 20th April. Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, appearing for Patnekar informed the Supreme Court about it today.
The bench led by the Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, and comprising of Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian was hearing a plea by Goa Congress President, Girish Chodankar who contended that despite passing of 19 months the speaker has not decided on the disqualification.
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Earlier SG Mehta had said that the speaker will pass orders on 29th April but after serious objection by Senior Advocate, Kapil Sibal, he said the Speaker has agreed to pass orders on 20th. The Speaker was supposed to pass orders on 26th February.
Court had suggested to let the Speaker decide on the case and SC to not hear it as the current chief justice will be retiring on 24th April and its a long matter which will take time to conclude. But after SG and Kapil Sibal insisted, the court agreed to hear the case on 21st April. The court will remain closed on the 21st for Ram Navami so it is not clear if a special bench will sit or the matter will be listed on a different day.
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