The issue of whether a discussion on the allegations over Ministers in the State government when the matter was considered ‘sub judice’, consumed half the day proceedings of Karnataka Legislative Council here on Friday including leading to an adjournment following the din over the issue.
The Friday’s din was a continuation of the Thursday’s developments in the Legislative Council during which three BJP members K.S. Eshwarappa, G. Madhusudhan and Ashwatthanarayan sought discussion over allegations against Ministers H.S. Mahadevprasad, Qamarul Islam and Dinesh Gundurao under Rule 307 of the Karnataka Legislative Council that had forced an adjournment.
On Friday, as soon as the session began, Mr. Madhusudhan again raised the issue of allegations against Minister Qamarul Islam and sought permission for discussion under Rule 307. Although the Chaiman D.H. Shankaramurthy clarified that as per the rules of the Council, the Chair could not allow discussion on such charges when a point of order was raised over the matter being sub judice.
“I need time to ascertain whether the matter is really sub judice or not and then only I can take a decision on the matter”, he said.
Unsatisfied by the Chairman’s words, the BJP members took turns to impress upon him to consider their request even as the floor leader S.R. Patil and others alleged that they were pressurising the Chairman. In between R.K. Siddaramanna raised a technical point and requested the chair to review his decision. The arguments, counter arguments, allegations, counter allegations between the opposition and ruling party members continued for over 15 minutes resulting in utter chaos that led to adjournment for ten minutes.
However, it was only after two hours that the session resumed as the Council Chairman was busy consulting the senior members of the council to decide on whether it was sub judice or not.
When the session resumed the Council Chairman, D.H. Shankaramurthy said that he needed time to take a decision on the notice as there were some legal issues. “I want to consult Additional Advocate General on the issue and after taking his advice I will announce my decision on Saturday”, he said.
His announcement again led to heated debate on whether the Chairman could consult a non-member of the house that went on for nearly an hour with senior council members Basavaraj Horatti, Ramachandra Gowda, K.B. Shanappa, K.S. Eshwarappa, R.K. Siddaramanna and others aggressively putting forward their view points which was countered by Congress party’s Viranna Mattikatti, V.S. Ugrappa, floor leader S.R. Patil, ministers H.K. Patil and Dinesh Gundurao and others. Amid the heated exchange of words, the Chairman adjourned the session for lunch.
