PANJIM: In what could be an early disappointment to Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the High Court of Bombay at Goa has sought evidence to prove that former Congress MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte did not resign voluntarily.
When the MGP petition seeking their disqualification came up for ‘hearing before admission’ on Monday, the bench comprising Justices N M Jamdar and Pritvirak K Chavan heard arguments for about an hour but refused to issue a notice to any respondent. The petitioners were asked to place material evidence on record indicating that the MLAs did not resign voluntarily, which they failed. The bench then adjourned the matter to Friday.
The petitioners, Satyawan Palkar and Vikas Prabhu had moved the court alleging that the resignations of the two MLAs who joined BJP were immoral and the acceptance by the Speaker unconstitutional. They have urged the high court to quash and set aside the Speaker’s order.
The petitioners have also sought directions to the Election Commission of India to recommend to the government and the Law Commission amendments to the anti-defection law whereby MPs, MLAs, MLCs who resign their membership of the house without justifiable reasons should be disqualified from contesting fresh elections and/or occupying any public posts for six years.
