NEW DELHI: The twin defection cases of Goa have been listed in the Supreme Court for hearing on September 9 before the Bench of Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde and not indefinitely deferred as claimed by Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar.
The two writ petitions, one by Chodankar against defection of 10 MLAs from his party and another by Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar against his two party MLAs, were scheduled on August 28, but the hearing was cancelled since the CJI did not hold court that day. In both cases, the defected MLAs joined the ruling BJP and many of them are the ministers.
The last hearing was held on August 11 when the adjournment of two weeks was given on the plea of Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar to give him time to file an additional affidavit. Patnekar is currently undergoing treatment of a cardiac-related ailment in the Goa Medical College (GMC).
Chodankar’s demand for fixing the hearing this week by September 4 may not be feasible in view of the Speaker’s hospitalisation as it would only lead to further postponement.
