(Express photo by Renuka Puri/File)Making a strong pitch for adjudicating disqualification cases by presiding officers within three months, Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has observed that a dispute pending before the Election Commission (EC) of India is “not germane” in judging a disqualification petition. Naidu made the observation while unseating Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar Ansari from Rajya Sabha late Monday night on the basis of the petitions filed by JD(U) floor leader Ram Chandra Prasad Singh. He pointed at a “widespread criticism of some Presiding Officers, who did not take a decision on the disqualification petitions” within a “reasonable time”. Keeping in view these facts, I decided to proceed with the determination of the question of disqualification of the Respondent myself”. Naidu said Yadav tried to establish that his group commanded majority-support within JD(U), and that a dispute in this regard was pending before the Election Commission.

Source: Indian Express December 05, 2017 22:33 UTC