Orders reserved on rebels' plea

The Hindu

Advocate Satyapal Jain (left), representing the BJP, addressing the press in Bangalore on Thursday. Law Minister S. Suresh Kumar is seen. — [Photo Courtesy: The Hindu/Sampath Kumar G.P.]

Bangalore, October 22, 2010: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday reserved orders on the petitions filed by 11 Bharatiya Janata Party legislators challenging their disqualification from membership of the Legislative Assembly.

Justice V.G. Sabhahit, who is the third judge hearing their plea against disqualification, heard arguments from both sides for two days before reserving orders on the petitions questioning the legality and validity of the October 11 order of Speaker K.G. Bopaiah disqualifying them.

...In the High Court, the BJP rebels contended that the Speaker could not pass an order under Section 2 (1) (a) of the Tenth Schedule disqualifying them. Soli Sorabjee and Satya Pal Jain, who defended the Speaker's action, said there was limited scope for judicial review of a Speaker's order.

If the rebels were disillusioned with the leadership of the Chief Minister, they could have approached the party for redressal of their grievances. How could they have gone to the Governor and what relief could he give them, they asked.  ...