Himachal HC may deliver verdict on plea by Independent MLAs for accepting resignation today
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TNR Desk
The Himachal Pradesh High Court is expected to deliver its verdict on Wednesday (May 8, 2024) on the contentious issue of Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania’s refusal to accept the resignations of three Independent MLAs.
The Independent MLAs, Hoshyar Singh from Dehra constituency, Ashish Sharma from Hamirpur and KL Thakur from Nalagarh, resigned from the Assembly and joined the BJP recently. They wanted to seek re-election from their seats and were hopeful the polls would be held along with bypolls to the six Assembly constituencies that were necessitated after the disqualification of Congress MLAs for allegedly defying a whip to vote in the budget session.
After concluding arguments on April 30, the high court had reserved its judgment in the case. The Independent MLAs have petitioned against the delay in the acceptance of their resignations.
The case, presided over by a division bench comprising Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, has attracted significant attention due to its implications on legislative dynamics. The court had previously dismissed an application filed by Congress MLA Harish Janartha from Shimla, who sought permission to intervene in the proceedings.
The high court has indicated that detailed reasons for rejecting Janartha’s application will accompany the main verdict. Simultaneously, petitions challenging CPS appointments will be heard, following the initial proceedings before a division bench led by Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice BC Negi on April 22. The petitioners have argued that CPS appointments contravened Supreme Court’s past decisions. They advocate for the reimbursement of unlawfully acquired salaries by the CPSes. The high court, responding to these concerns, has imposed restrictions on CPSes, prohibiting them from accessing ministerial facilities or performing ministerial duties.
