The Supreme Court refused to hear the Congress’ plea against the Speaker’s decision regarding its 8 MLAs defecting to the BJP.

Photo of the Supreme Court. File | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

The Supreme Court on Friday (December 13, 2024) refused to entertain a plea challenging the decision of the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly to reject the impeachment plea of ​​the Congress against eight MLAs who defected from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar asked Congress leader Girish Chodankar, who had filed a petition in the Court, to move the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court to challenge the speaker’s decision.

On November 1, Goa Parliament Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar rejected the impeachment petition filed by the Congress against eight MLAs who defected from the BJP.

The impeachment petition was filed by former Goa Congress President Chodankar against MPs Digambar Kamat, Aleixo Sequeira, Sankalp Amonkar, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Rudolf Fernandes and Rajesh Faldesai.

Rejecting Chodankar’s request, Speaker Mr. Tawadkar ruled that “in the merger of the first political party of the elected member with another political party, the elected member will not face withdrawal in any emergency i.e. either he chooses to go with the merger or he does not agree. the same”.

The withdrawal on the grounds of deviation will not work in case of merger, said Mr. Tawadkar.