18 TN MLAs disqualification case: Third judge to hear case from July 23 to 27

CHENNAI: The fate of 18 disqualified AIADMK rebel MLAs is likely to be decided before this month end, as the Supreme Court-appointed third judge on Wednesday decided to hear the final arguments in the case from July 23 to 27.
"I will take up the case for final hearing from July 23 to 27 as the lead item on the list every day at 10.30am," Justice M Sathyanarayanan said after discussing with the counsels of both the parties.

As suggested by senior counsel P S Raman representing the 18 MLAs, the petition filed by Vetrivel would be taken as the lead case, as all the 18 pleas are identical.

Hinting that senior counsel Abhishek Singhvi would not be representing the disqualified legislators, Raman said senior counsel Mohan Parasaran and himself would argue the case.

"Even today we are ready to argue the case, we need less than a day to complete our pleadings," he added.

On June 14, the first bench of the court passed a split verdict, with the Chief Justice Indira Banerjee upholding the decision of the Tamil Nadu assembly speaker. The second judge, Justice M Sundar, differed and set aside the disqualification order passed by the assembly speaker.