Assembly rejects HC ''request'' to Speaker appear in dance bar case

Mumbai, Apr 20 (UNI) The Maharashtra Assembly today unanimously rejected the ''request'' of Bombay High Court to Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar to appear before it tommorrow in the dance bar ban case.

The High Court's request came during the hearing of a criminal writ petition yesterday filed by Bar Owners' Association President Manjit Singh Sethi against the sentence of 90- day imprisonment awarded to him by the Assembly on April 12.

A resolution to this effect was moved by the Speaker himself, seeking approval of the Lower House on his decision not to accept the ''request letter'' from the High Court handed over to his office by Sethi's son yesterday.

Mr Kupekar, who held a meeting of all group leaders in the Assembly to discuss the issue yesterday itsel, said there have been earlier precedents where presiding officers have declined to accept Court notices on decisions taken by the legislature or Parliament.

He said he was putting the resolution to vote and it was passed by a voice vote unanimously.

UNI MR KD RL HT1735