The Patna High Court on Friday allowed the four disqualified rebel ruling party Janata Dal (United) legislators to attend the coming monsoon session of the State Legislature from August 3. The MLAs — Ajit Kumar, Suresh Chanchal, Poonam Devi and Raju Singh — later sat on a dharna in the Assembly premises as there was nobody to receive the court order from them.
The court, however, also observed that the said MLAs would not be entitled to their salary, allowances and perks. Besides, they would also not be able to participate in the voting that may come up during the session which will continue till August 7.
“Our stand has been vindicated by the honourable court and now we’ll be able to attend the coming session,” Mr. Ajit Kumar told The Hindu . He also said they [the rebel group] would contest the coming Assembly poll together with the NDA against the “autocratic regime” of Nitish Kumar.
Earlier in November last year, Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhury, had disqualified the rebel MLAs for their “anti-party activities.”
The aggrieved MLAs had approached the High Court seeking relief in view of the recent Supreme Court order which had allowed four other disqualified JD(U) MLAs — Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, Niraj Kumar Bablu, Ravindra Rai and Rahul Sharma — to attend the monsoon session. The Speaker told journalists that former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi would continue to be regarded as unattached member notwithstanding the Election Commission recognising his newly formed party Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular). The HAM (Secular), however, is yet to get its party symbol.
“As per the provisions available, the JD(U) whip would apply to him [Jitan Ram Manjhi],” Mr. Chaudhury said.
The rebel group will contest Assembly polls with the NDA
