Chennai: In another setback to AMMK leader T. T. V. Dhinakaran, Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal has asked the officials to lock and seal the MLA residential quarters of the 18 disqualified lawmakers supporting Dhinakaran. He also directed the rebel MLAs to collect their belongings and vacate the premises.
The latest move has come as an embarrassment to the rebel MLAs whose disqualification by the Speaker was upheld by the Madras High Court on Thursday. According to sources Mr. Dhanapal had directed them to vacate the MLA residential quarters allotted to them and asked the authorities to lock and seal the premises. A directive issued to the dissident MLAs by Assembly Secretary K. Srinivasan said, it took notice of their disqualification from the membership of the Legislative Assembly.
As per the orders of the Speaker under the Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on the grounds of Defection) Rules, 1986, read with the 10th Schedule of the Constitution and notified in the Government Gazette dated Sep. 18, 2017, the disqualified MLAs were not entitled for any facilities provided to them, including the MLAs' residential quarters.
Inspite of Speaker's orders they have not vacated the MLA hostel. Hence, following instruction from Mr Dhanapal the quarters allotted to them were locked and sealed by the Assembly secretariat. The disqualified MLAs have been told to take their personal belongings from the quarters in the presence of the under secretary (hostel administration) and vacate the premises. Mr Srinivasan also asked them to settle the pending rental dues at once.
