The top court rejected the two appeals against the Madras High Court order of 22 March and upheld the nomination of the three legislators by LG Kiran Bedi.
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Centre's decision nominating three BJP leaders as MLAs to Puducherry Assembly.
The top court rejected the two appeals against the Madras High Court order of 22 March upholding the nomination of the three legislators.
A bench of justices AK Sikri, Ashok Bhushan and SA Abdul Nazeer said, "We uphold the impugned judgment of the Madras High Court".
On July 19, the apex court had asked the Puducherry Assembly Speaker to allow the three nominated BJP leaders to function as MLAs and refused to stay the order of the Madras High Court.
LG-Govt rift
The High Court had upheld the nomination of BJP members V Saminathan, KG Shankar and S Selvaganapathy to the Assembly by the Centre and their swearing-in by Lt Governor Kiran Bedi on July 4 last year.
The Congress government had opposed their nomination. The territorial assembly speaker V Vaithilingam declined to recongise them as MLAs and had cancelled their nomination.
The issue had then intensified the rift between Bedi and the Congress government with the latter assailing her action as unconstitutional and contended that the Centre had 'unilaterally' nominated the MLAs without consulting the territorial government.
Challenging the speakers' action, the three MLAs moved the Madras High Court, which upheld their nomination.
Later, the Congress leaders filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, which Thursday upheld the Centre's decision nominating the three.
Bedi hails SC order
Lt Governor Kiran Bedi Thursday hailed the Supreme Court verdict upholding the nomination.
Hours after the court ruling, Bedi said she was "exceedingly grateful and happy" to see the judgment passed by the Supreme court validating nomination of the three MLAs to Puducherry Assembly by the Union Government as per law.
"We thank the three MLAs for their forbearance as they had gone through many unpleasant situations, sometimes highly disrespectful, to finally achieve this judgment today," she said adding "in the end law has prevailed." The MLAs also welcomed the apex court order.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "File Photo:")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}