MLAs disqualification case: Madras HC delivers split verdict

In the crucial MLAs disqualification case in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar delivered differing verdicts on Thursday. While the Chief Justice upheld the disqualification, Justice Sundar overturned the Assembly Speaker’s decision.

The Chief Justice has reportedly said that the matter will be transferred to a larger bench comprising three judges. The split verdict comes as a temporary relief for the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami-led government in the state. The court has delivered the verdict five months after it reserved judgment on January 23.

Speaker P Dhanapal on September 18, 2017, had disqualified the 18 dissident lawmakers, who are supporters of RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran, under the anti-defection law. The split verdict means the 18 MLAs stand disqualified for now.

The High Court bench has ordered that no floor test or by polls can be conducted till its final order. Since the Chief Justice is part of the bench that delivered the verdict today, the second senior most judge Justice Huluvadi Ramesh will nominate the third judge.