PANJIM: Goa Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnerkar has again called Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) legislator Sudin Dhavalikar on Monday, March 22, regarding his disqualification petition against two former MGP MLAs, who joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Speaker has called the petitioner ahead of the Supreme Court listing the matter for hearing before Chief Justice of India S A Bobde on April 5.
Dhavalikar has been asked to remain present in the Speaker’s chamber at Goa Assembly Complex, Porvorim, at 11 am, on Monday.
When contacted, Dhavalikar confirmed that he has been asked to remain present in the Speaker’s chamber at 11 am on Monday but was unaware whether it was for some queries or whether the Speaker would now pronounce the judgement.
On March 10, the Speaker had called Dhavalikar for some queries after which the petitioner withdrew one of the two disqualification petitions filed against two former MGP legislators Manohar `Babu’ Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pauskar, who joined BJP in the wee hours of March 27, 2019.
Later, both Ajgaonkar and Pauskar were inducted as Cabinet Ministers after dropping the then Deputy Chief Minister Sudin Dhavalikar from the Cabinet.
The Speaker had called Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar regarding some clarification pertaining to his disqualification petition.
The Speaker later rejected Chodankar’s application to submit additional documents even as Chodankar alleged that the Speaker was delaying the disposition of disqualification petition.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has listed both the disqualification petitions for hearing on April 5. The cases will now be heard by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde.
Both the petitioners are seeking disqualification of 12 rebel MLAs under the Tenth Schedule of Constitution and under the Anti-Defection Act.
Disqualification plea: Speaker to meet Dhavalikar tomorrow
