SC notices to Goa Govt, State Assembly speaker on floor test issue(Lead: Goa)

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to Goa Government and State Assembly Speaker Pratapsinh Rane on petitions challenging the Speakers order restraining three MLAs from voting, during Chief Minister Digambar Kamats floor test.

New Delhi, Aug 6 : The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to Goa Government and State Assembly Speaker Pratapsinh Rane on petitions challenging the Speaker's order restraining three MLAs from voting, during Chief Minister Digambar Kamat's floor test.

Rane, through an ad-interim order on disqualification petitions, had restrained three legislators from participating in the Assembly vote, resulting in the Congress victory.

Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLAs - Sudin Dhavalikar and Dipak Dhavilkar - and Victoria Fernandes, the Congress MLA who had resigned from the State Assembly, were restrained from voting.

The petitioners - the MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the MGP -have sought a stay on the Speaker Pratapsinh Rane's order alleging that the orders were not even served with the copies of the disqualification.

The MLAs also questioned the Speaker's decision to hold voice vote on the Motion of Confidence.

The case is scheduled for next hearing on August 13.

Governor S C Jamir had directed Kamat to undertake a floor test to prove his majority after the Congress Government was reduced to a minority.

ANI