Speaker N. Sakthan on Monday permitted rebel Kerala Congress (M) leader P.C. George to cross-examine witnesses who had deposed before him in the case related to George’s disqualification as a legislator.
The Speaker gave the permission to cross-examine Government Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan, who had submitted the petition on behalf of the Kerala Congress (M) seeking Mr. George’s disqualification as a legislator. Mr. George, according to sources, will appear on October 8, the next date of hearing along with his counsel.
The Speaker had given detailed hearing on October 1 at which Mr. Unniyadan and a few media persons had given their depositions. Mr. George did not appear on that day and his plea for postponement of the hearing was disallowed.
Mr. Unniyadan had contended that Mr. George had worked against the Kerala Congress (M) and the UDF. He produced evidence relating to Mr. George’s sponsoring a candidate for the Aruvikkara by-election. The Speaker had refused to give more time to Mr. George to submit responses to the petition since he wanted to process the case faster. It is at this juncture that Mr. George came up with his plea for cross examining witnesses.