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Deadline set for BSP in defection case

Speaker asks the party to file objections by Friday noon

LUCKNOW: Annoyed with the delaying tactics of the BSP, Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey has set a deadline of 12 noon on Friday to the party to file written objections on commencing of the case related to defection of 13 former BSP MLAs to the ruling Samajwadi Party.

The Speaker said it was the last chance for the BSP to file a written argument by Friday noon after which he would pronounce his ruling.

Earlier, Mr Pandey rejected a BSP application seeking adjournment of the case till next week as their senior counsel Satish Chandra Mishra was suffering from illness.

While BSP counsel P N Gupta stated the argument of Mr. Mishra was still to be completed, the Speaker maintained he had given enough time to the BSP to conclude.

Meanwhile, Mr. Gupta said BSP had sought a certified copy of today's direction of the Speaker, and after receiving it the party would decide whether to file the written arguments.

In earlier hearing, Mr. Mishra had said that since all the 13 MLAs could not reply within the seven-day stipulated period to the BSP petition of September 4, 2003, the Speaker should not entertain the June 15 petition of the two defected legislators.

He contended that since the November 14, 2003 order of the Speaker was judicial in nature, it could not be recalled without citing any specific reason.

Citing several instances, Mr. Mishra, who is also the BSP general secretary, said the review of the order could only be done if there was a glare of error.

The Speaker in his earlier order had stayed the hearing on a petition of 10 MLAs out of the 13 till Lucknow Bench of Allahabad HC delivered its verdict on the petition challenging the defection of 40 BSP MLAs to SP on September 6, 2003.

The BSP counsel said once the Speaker had gone on record staying the proceedings till High Court judgement, there was no question of commencing hearing without withdrawing the earlier order.

Earlier, on July 12, the BSP plea to adjourn the hearing in the case was rejected by Mr Pandey since the matter was sub-judice before the court. -- UNI

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Deadline set for BSP in defection case

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