Exceedingly grateful to SC for validating nomination of 3 MLAs, says Kiran Bedi

PUDUCHERRY: In a major setback to the Congress government in the Union territory, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld an order of the Madras high court validating the nomination of three people as members of the legislative assembly in Puducherry. The Madras high court on March 22 this year upheld the nomination of BJP Puducherry unit president V Saminathan, treasurer KG Shankar and BJP loyalists S Selvaganapathy as members of the legislative assembly by the Union government.

Lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi while expressing gratitude over the Supreme Court’s order said she was happy to note that the top court validated the nomination of three people to the legislative assembly by the Union government as per the law.

Bedi thanked the three nominated MLAs for their forbearance as they went through many unpleasant situations, sometimes highly disrespectful, to finally secure justice. “In the end the law prevailed and upheld. They (three nominated MLAs) can now serve for the prosperity of Puducherry as a whole," Bedi said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court observed that it expected the Speaker of the Puducherry legislative assembly V Vaithilingam to allow the three nominated MLAs to participate in the session following which the legislative assembly secretary Vincent Rayar in July invited the nominated MLAs to participate in the session. Vaithilingam did not accord permission to the three MLAs to participate in the budget session then despite the Madras high court’s order in their favour.