SC defers DMK's plea over disqualification of 11 AIADMK MLAs

The Supreme Court today deferred for 15 days a plea by DMK seeking directions to restrict 11 AIADMK MLAs from entering the state Assembly. The 11 MLAs had voted against the Palaniswami government in 2017.

New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned a petition filed by Tamil Nadu's opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) seeking direction to restrain 11 AIADMK MLAs including Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam from entering the Assembly.

The case came for hearing before a bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde. In its argument, the DMK cited the recent judgment of the Manipur High Court that restrained seven Congress MLAs defected to BJP from entering the Assembly.

As the Manipur state legislative assembly speaker had not taken any decision on the complaints against the defected MLAs, the High Court ordered the defected MLAs to not enter the assembly.

Similarly, DMK sought direction to restrict the entry of 11 MLAs including Deputy CM O Panneerselvam into the assembly as they had voted against the current AIADMK government led by CM Edappadi K Palaniswami in 2017.

The DMK further submitted that though complaints were lodged with the speaker about the issue, he did not discharge his duties.

On hearing the arguments, the apex court adjourned the case for 15 days.

Read:DMK moves fresh plea in SC over disqualification of 11 AIADMK MLAs

Besides, reports said that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami wrote to Assembly speaker P Dhanapal saying that no whip was issued to OPS led 11 MLA-faction in 2017.

"As the 11 MLAs functioned as a separate faction, we did not issue whip to vote for the government. Also, all the 11 MLAs had returned to AIADMK and are supporting the government. So, it is unnecessary to take action against 11 MLAs," the CM said in his letter.

Meanwhile, Panneerselvam filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court saying that he and his supporters did not receive any whip from AIADMK in 2017.

"We were not issued issued any whip to vote for AIADMK government in 2017. So, no action can be taken against us under anti-defection law," he said in his petition.

Pertinently, the apex court in its February 18 order urged Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal to take a call on the 11 MLAs' matter as they had voted against the current Edappadi K Palaniswami led Government in 2017.

Read:After Congress, BJP shifts its MLAs to Jaipur hotel