Bengaluru: Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, K B Koliwad, backed down as did two editors, Ravi Belagere and Anil Raj, who were sentenced to a year's imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each, ending the row over the controversial decision of the Legislative Assembly which attracted criticism across the country.
On Monday, Ravi Belagere and Anil Raj met Koliwad and submitted a petition to review to decision of the privileges committee, but Mr Koliwad said the House should take a call at the next session.
The counsel for the editors, Shankarappa, sought seeking quashing of the punishment recommended by privileges committee in its report submitted to Koliwad on June 21. While Anil Raj came to the Speaker's chamber around 3:05 pm, Mr Belagere arrived with the help of two relatives around 3:20 pm.
In the packed chamber of the Speaker, the counsel said the review petition was being filed as directed by the high court following a writ petition filed by him on behalf of two clients, questioning the quantum of punishment given by the privileges committee. The additional advocate general, appearing on behalf of the state government, had already given an undertaking to the court that the petitioners would not be arrested till they filed a review petition before the Speaker. In view of this, Ravi Belagere and Anil Raj appeared before the Speaker in person to file the review petition through their counsel.
Mr Shankarappa contended that due procedure had not been followed while handing punishment to his clients because of which they were requesting the custodian of the House to review his decision.
