PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa will hear the petition challenging the Speaker’s decision to reject the disqualification plea filed by the Congress party against the 10 rebel MLAs on December 10.
The matter was taken up for hearing for the first time on Monday after which the High Court agreed to club the petition along with the petition filed by the MGP and placed the matter for final disposal on December 10.
Goa Forward has filed an intervention plea in the High Court supporting the disqualification petition filed by Congress and MGP against their former MLAs.
The Congress has meanwhile called for a Parliament to legislate an independent body to adjudicate the matters relating to disqualification.
"If the Speakers cannot do their job independently -- because Speakers sometimes go by their party affiliation -- then the time has come that through an amendment the power should be given to an independent authority. Whenever such issues arise, I would prefer that there is a quasi-judicial authority created, empowered, given a timeline so that this disease that we have seen in Goa and many other states, be brought to an end,” Adv Vivek Tankha, who appeared on behalf of Congress said.
Adv Tankha who is also a Rajya Sabha MP and constitutional lawyer said that the party would take up in Parliament the issue.
“We are raising this issue in Parliament that there should be some timelines for the 10th schedule matters. The Speaker does not give decisions in these cases for months and years... My opinion is that the courts will do their jobs, and will find a way to do an expeditious hearing, but Parliament too should bring an amendment that there should be a timeline for the Speakers,” he said.
