SC allows 5 ex-BSP MLAs to enjoy facilities

New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed that the five disqualified former BSP MLAs belonging to the breakaway group will continue to enjoy all the facilities they are entitled to during the pendency of their appeal.

A bench comprising Justice K G Balakrishanan and Justice D K Jain passed the interim order when the matter was mentioned before the court seeking a stay against the impuned order of the Uttar Pradesh State Assembly Speaker on June 10 this year vide which the five ex-BSP MLAs were disqualified for violating the party whip during polling for a Rajya Sabha seat.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had permitted the recognition of all the 42 BSP MLAs as Loktrantric Bahujan Dal (LBD). The present disqualifications proceedings against the five ex-BSP MLAs were initiated on the complaint of Yogendra Pratap Singh, leader of LBD in the Assembly.

Five former BSP MLAs -- Surender Vikram Singh, Dharampal Singh, Jaivir Singh, Ramji Shukla and Ramkrishan -- had resigned as Ministers from the Mulayam Singh Cabinet and rejoined their parent party, BSP following Allahabad High Court order dated February 28 which held the action of UP Assembly Speaker declaring their defection from BSP and subsequent joining of Samajwadi Party as valid. These MLAs had defected from the BSP in September 2003 to enable Mulayam Singh Yadav to cobble together a majority to form a government in the state.

They were all made ministers and Chairmen of various boards of the State government.

UNI AKS/SC PR RK2118