PANJIM: The much-awaited verdict that will decide the fate of 12 defected MLAs, who are also the contesting candidates on various political party tickets and Independents, will be delivered by the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday, February 24.
The verdict attains significance as it is slated to be delivered about a fortnight before the poll results will be declared on March 10.
The Division Bench comprising of Justice Manish Pitale and Justice R N Laddha will pronounce the judgment at 10:30am.
The High Court had a week back concluded hearing arguments in the disqualification matter wherein the petitioners argued that the interpretation given by the Speaker in his impugned disqualification order is contrary to the aims and objectives of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, that is, prevention of defection and it defeats the very purpose the Schedule which was enacted in the year 1985 and thereafter strengthened by amendment in the year 2003.
Of the 12 defected MLAs, 10 MLAs from Congress and two from MGP had switched to BJP in 2019. However, in the just-held Assembly polls, some have contested on different party tickets while some stood Independent.
Among the former Congressmen, Chandrakant Kavlekar, Jeniffer Monserratte, Nilkant Halarnkar, Atanasio Monserratte, Antonio Fernandes, Francis Silveira, and Clafacio Dias contested on BJP ticket while Philipe Neri Rodrigues, Isidore Fernandes and Wilfred D’Sa contested as Independent.
Ex-MGP leaders Deepak Pauskar who was among others denied BJP ticket also contested Independent while Manohar Babu Ajgaonkar contested from Margao instead of his traditional constituency – Pernem.
