Court junks NCP rebels’ petition against Speaker

The Bombay High Court today dismissed as ‘‘premature’’ petitions filed by three rebel NCP MLAs challenging the show-caus...

The Bombay High Court today dismissed as ‘‘premature’’ petitions filed by three rebel NCP MLAs challenging the show-cause notices for disqualification served on them by Speaker Arun Gujarathi under the anti-defection law.

A division bench said that it would not intervene in the matter at this stage. It said that there can be no judicial review in view of well-settled laws laid down by the Supreme Court that courts cannot intervene before the presiding officer gives his ruling.

Uncertainty in state will end after June 13: Sena chief

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today exuded confidence that the saffron combine would come to power after June 13 but refused to divulge the strategy that the combine would adopt to dislodge the DF government.
‘‘After June 13, there will be certainty, as after that the saffron combine will assume power,’’ Thackeray, who was flanked by son Uddhav and nephew Raj, told reporters. He was, however, non-committal on the strength of the supporters of the Sena-BJP alliance.
‘‘This is not the place to discuss the strength of rebels supporting the Sena-BJP combine. I don’t have the information. It will be better if you ask Gopinath Munde,’’ he said. Thackeray ruled out the possibility of a law and order problem on June 13.
Thackeray took strong objection to disqualification proceedings initiated against rebel NCP members. ‘‘When there was no whip, how can disqualification proceedings be initiated. It is improper,’’ he said. ENS

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The petitions were filed by MLAs Narsingh Patil, Shivajirao Naik and Narayan Pawar. Two other petitions filed by NCP MLA Shirish Kotwal and Congress’s Padmakar Valvi were tagged with alongwith the three and dismissed.

After undertaking before the HC on September 7 to approach the Speaker for extension of time to reply, the MLAs met the former who granted time until June 11. However, the MLAs amended their original petition and challenged even the granted by the Speaker.

Counsel Vinod Bobde appearing for Kotwal said that the Speaker should have granted the mandatory seven days as provided by the rules. He said even if the MLAs were served notices on June 6 they should have been given time until June 12.

Bobde said that though the Supreme Court has said that only in exceptional cases can the court interfere at an interlocutory stage, this case calls for such intervention because principles of natural justice have been violated.

Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu and Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji

Spate of surrenders later, Maoists get new public liaison who vouches for ‘armed struggle’

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The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) has found a new public voice after its ideological head Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu surrendered along with 60 cadres in Maharashtra earlier this month. According to Telangana intelligence sources, Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji, believed to be the current General Secretary of the party, has doubled up as its public face under the pseudonym Abhay

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