Disqualified SP MLAs can attend House: Allahabad HC

LUCKNOW:  In a major relief to four disqualified Samajwadi Party MLAs, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday allowed them to attend the session of the state Assembly and draw perks and allowances as applicable.

The MLAs, however, would not be entitled to participate and vote in proceedings of the House, the Lucknow Bench of the court said.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Pradeep Kant and Justice Arun Tandon passed this order on a bunch of petitions filed by MLAs Sunder Lal, Kalyan Singh Dohare, Omvati and Ratan Lal Ahirwar.

In their petitions, they had challenged Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker's decision to disqualify them on charges of violation of the party whip and voting in favour of BSP candidates in recent Rajya Sabha biennial polls.

The four SP MLAs were disqualified by Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey last month under the anti-defection act.

The court issued a notice to the Speaker and fixed October 5 for further hearing in the matter.