Split verdict on MLAs relief for ADMK govt

Chennai, June 14

In a huge relief to the AIADMK government, the Madras High Court on Thursday gave a split verdict on petitions challenging the disqualification of 18 MLAs loyal to sidelined party leader TTV Dhinakaran, a ruling that would maintain status quo in the corridors of power in Tamil Nadu.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar delivered divergent verdicts on whether the MLAs deserved to be disqualified under the anti-defection law  for seeking the removal of Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

The court ruled that the seniormost judge after the CJ would now pick a judge to hear the matter afresh.

The verdict came as a massive relief for the Palaniswami government as restoration of the MLAs’ membership could have brought it perilously close to losing majority in the event of their joining hands with the DMK-Congress-IUML alliance, which has 98 MLAs in the 234-member House. — PTI