Speaker postpones disqualification case to Nov 24

Bangalore, Nov 17: Karnataka Assembly Speaker Krishna today postponed the hearing on a petition to disqualify former Chief Minister H D Kumarswamy along with 39 other JD(S) legislators to November 24.

Mr Krishna told reporters here that the hearing of the petition filed by legislators Vatal Nagaraj and two others demanding their disqualification has been postponed for a week following objections raised by lawyer D L Jagdish on behalf of JD(S) legislators.

The lawyer raised objections regarding the demand for including former Home Hinister M P Prakash, who was a legislature party leader during the formation of JD(S)-BJP government as a witness in the case, he said.

He said he had asked the lawyer to submit the objections if any in writing.

Regarding the non-attendance of former Prime minister and National JD(S) President H D Devegowda he said another summons would be issued to him to be present in person as the earlier one was not received by him.

The Speaker said that the hearing of the case regarding the disaqualification of Siddaramaiah and seven others besides P G S Sindhia has been postponed to December one.

He said that the petition regarding Siddaramaiah has been set aside as he has joined Congress and won by-elections on the party ticket.

Later, Mr Nagaraj told reporters that he had urged the Speaker to issue an interim order to JD(S) members against whom the case is pending not to take part in the vote of confidence to be held on November 19 to prove the majority on the floor of the house.

UNI