Uproar in Assembly over "anti-judiciary" resolution

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 28: The Kerala Assembly was adjourned for the day today several hours ahead of the schedule as slogan shouting Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) members rushed to the well of the House demanding the withdrawal of, what they alleged, an ''anti-judiciary'' resolution passed yesterday.

Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Oommen Chandy said the manner in which the resolution, expressing the House's reservations over a court issuing arrest warrants against Electricity Minister A K Balan and CPI(M) MLA M Chandran was passed, was a black chapter in the history of the Legislature and it should be withdrawn.

He said the Legislature should not get into an unhealthy confrontation with the judiciary.

However, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan clarified that the government had tried to convince the Opposition about the need to pass such a resolution against the court which showed 'disrespect' to the House by issuing an arrest warrant against two members when the Assembly was in Session.

But the Opposition was not ready to cooperate.

Agitating Opposition members carrying placards and wearing black badges rushed to the Well of the House shouting slogans ''Legislature should not be made a tool to defame courts''.

Soon the watch and ward guards encircled the Speakers podium and Speaker K Radhakrishnan rushed through the day's remaining business amid noisy scenes.

The House also passed the Tranvancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2007 without any discussion.

UNI