I am free to give unilateral decision: Speaker

Ranchi, Sept 12: Ahead of the crucial floor test to be faced by Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda, Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari today said he was free to take a unilateral decision if the response from the three legislators, facing a disqualification notice, did not reach him as scheduled.

Mr Namdhari had detailed discussions with a battery of advocates on the ramifications of the intricate issue that turned more interesting when the Supreme Court yesterday refused to grant an interim stay to the three MLAs--Mr Anosh Ekka, Mr Kamlesh Singh (both rebel ministers) and Mr Stephen Marandi (Ind). The three are facing a disqualification notice from the Speaker.

''I have talked to Advocate General Anil Sinha and carefully studied the case,'' he told UNI here adding specific time had been set for the three MLAs and it was upto them whether they came personally or sent their advocates for the hearing.

Tomorrow's hearing would begin at 1000 hours and continue till 1400 hours.

Mr Ekka or his advocate had been given the slot of 1000 hours to 1200 hours, while the next two hours have been given to Mr Singh. Mr Marandi's time is from 1200 hours to 1400 hours, he said.

The Speaker is expected to pronounce his verdict at 1700 hours.

With the Apex Court refusing to restrain the Speaker from acting on the application till a trust vote in the assembly, Mr Namdhari last evening called a press conference to say that his critics, who were denouncing his move on the defection notice issue, got an apt reply from the highest court in the land.

He said he would hold an open court tomorrow.

''The SC also said the legislators should have replied to the notices,'' he said, adding the opposition must have got their reply.

Initially, the Speaker set yesterday as the last date for hearing but the three MLAs sought more time to appear before him.

''No illeligible MLA should take part in the trial of strength,'' he said adding his prime duty was to see to it that such a situation did not come again.

The notices were served on September six.

Mr Singh, the only NCP legislator, along with Mr Harinarain Rai, Mr Madhu Koda and Mr Anos Ekka(All independent MLAs) were ministers in BJP-led NDA government and resigned from the Munda cabinet on September five reducing the government to a minority.

The Speaker had asked Mr Ekka,Mr Singh and Mr Marandi to explain by yesterday, why their membership should not be quashed.

Mr Ekka's counsel yesterday represented him before the Speaker's court, cited ill health and sought more time for his client to appear personally before Mr Namdhari.

Similarly, Kamlesh Singh and Stephen Marandi were also represented by their counsels and sought time to appear before him.

The UPA on September 10, gheraoed the Speaker's residence here for a brief while.

Yesterday, about 900 UPA activists were detained while gheraoing the assembly as part of their stepped protest against Mr Namdhari's action.

UNI

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