House adjourned sine die amidst TDP protest

Hyderabad, Mar 30 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned sine die today even as the main Opposition TDP staged a noisy protest demanding reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the wake of the Supreme Court staying the Central legislation providing for reservation to OBCs in higher educational institutions.

When Speaker K R Suresh Reddy disallowed the adjournment motion notices by the TDP and Janata Party member K Ramulu on the reservation issue, the TDP stalled the proceedings demanding setting aside of listed business and pressing for a discussion on the ''burning issue''.

After a brief adjournment for over 15 minutes, the ruling and Oopposition party members were engaged in a procedural wrangle, with the Congress maintaining that the House was not competent to pass a resolution on a matter which was subjudice and the TDP contending that under Article 211 of the Constitution, the Speaker was empowered to allow a discussion at his discretion.

The Speaker again adjourned the House and after a three-hour discussion in his chambers with floor leaders, he directed the Government to come out with resolution reflecting the mood of the House without treading into the domain of judiciary.

When the amendments moved by the TDP on official resolutions on OBC and Muslims reservation were lost, the Opposition party members again stormed into the Well of the House pressing the Centre to immediately convene Parliament for taking legal steps to protect reservations for OBCs in IITs and IIMs in the coming academic year.

Utter pandemonium prevailed in the House while Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah moved the two Appropriation Bills.

Speaker K R Suresh Reddy put to vote the Appropriation Bills and adjourned the House sine die after all the important bills were adopted by voice vote.

UNI