SC to decide fate of Kamat Govt on Aug 13

New Delhi, Aug 12: The Supreme Court will decide tomorrow on the petitions of two Goa legislators against their disqualification by the state Assembly Speaker restraining them from voting in the trial of strength of the Digambar Kamat government.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan has already issued notices to Speaker Pratapsinh Rane and the Chief Minister for August 13.

Two MGP MLAs Pandurang alias Deepak Dhalivalikar and Sudin Dhalivalikar and Goa Democratic Alliance headed by former Chief Minister Manohar Parikar have filed petitions in the Supreme Court against the decision of Mr Rane not allowing them to cast their votes during the trial of strength on the floor of Goa Assembly on July 30.

According to the petitioner, the Speaker had committed ''a fraud'' by debarring the two legislators from exercising their franchise even without hearing them.

The Governor had directed the Chief Minister to seek a fresh vote of confidence in the assembly in view of the withdrawal of the support by Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party(MGP). Earlier, counsel for the petitioner had contended that their was no split in the MGP as the decision to withdraw support was taken by the party.

The petitioners have prayed to the Supreme Court to set aside the ''illegal and unconstitutional'' ex-parte decision of Mr Rane and direct the state Chief Minister to seek fresh vote of confidence by permitting the two petitioners to cast their vote.

According to the petitioner, the Kamat government has been redued to minority in the 40-member State Assembly.

UNI