(NDTV)
In a big relief for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami, the Madras High Court today said that floor test should not be conducted till further orders. It said that a final decision on the matter will be taken in the next hearing on October 4.
The court’s ruling came during a hearing on a batch of petitions challenging Speaker P Dhanapal’s order disqualifying 18 rebel lawmakers of the ruling AIADMK. Though the court did not put on hold the Speaker’s order, it directed against issuing a poll notification for the 18 Assembly seats, which fell vacant due to the disqualification of the dissident lawmakers. Eight of the 18 legislators had moved court on Tuesday, challenging their disqualification by the Speaker a day before, under the anti-defection law. The rebel lawmakers said the speaker’s move was “illegal” since no whip was issued.
The legislator’s disqualifiction, however, insured the EPS government against any embarassment if the ruling AIADMK government had to prove its majority in a floor test, as demanded by the main opposition party the DMK.
