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Karnataka HC upholds rebel BJP MLAs' disqualification

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October 30, 2010 1:31:57 AM

PTI | Bangalore

In a major boost for the BJP government in the state, a third judge in the Karnataka High Court on Friday upheld the disqualification of 11 rebel BJP MLAs, concurring with the decision of the Chief Justice.



Justice V G Sabhahit, to whom the division bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar had referred the matter, upheld Speaker K G Bopaiah's order disqualifying the dissident MLAs.



The Speaker's order of disqualification was in accordance with Para 2 (1) (a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution--anti-defection law, observed Justice Sabhahit, who has concurred with the ruling given by the Chief Justice earlier.



The division bench, which also consists of Justice N Kumar, had earlier given a split verdict with Justice Kumar setting aside the Speaker's order. The bench had then referred the matter to the third judge.



Justice Sabhahit today placed his order before the division bench for delivering its formal orders.



Today's order of the court comes as a major victory for the BJP, which has been plagued by dissidence and scraped through a confidence vote in the Assembly on Oct 14 after 16 disqualified MLAs were kept out of the Assembly.



BJP counsel Satya Pal Jain hailed the third judge's order saying this gave a good signal to defectors.