Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker has argued that he had not violated any norm by disqualifying 18 MLAs, who are supporters of TTV Dhinakaran. In turn, very act of the MLAs meeting the governor seeking to dissolve the government, itself is a valid ground for disqualification, said the senior counsel Aryama Sundaram, appearing on behalf of Speaker, before the Supreme Court appointed third judge Justice M Sathyanarayanan, when matter relating to disqualification of 18-MLAs came up for hearing on Monday.
The senior counsel said the MLAs had submitted petitions to the Governor to dissolve the government as the party had not agreed to their demand.
He said law is very clear that they cannot approach the governor for change of chief minister, the Apex court in 2016 had held that legislators cannot approach the governor with such a demand. Hence, their action was in contrary to law.
The 18 MLAs claim that they met the governor only after the intra party mechanism failed to redress their grievance, which means that they left the party. Party had disagreed with them, so they met the governor to dissolve the government.
The Speaker had not violated principles of natural justice by denying them permission to cross examine CM Eddapadi K Palaniswami and the party whip. Instead of appearing before the Speaker and produce evidences in support of their claims, they wanted to prove their case by cross examining the Chief Minister and the whip.
They insisted it as a matter of right to assert their claim and this cannot be permitted. Subsequently, Senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan, who appeared on behalf of CM, has commenced his arguments. Later, Justice M Sathyanarayanan has adjourned the matter to Tuesday for further hearing.
