Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Disqualification petitions against two MLAs, Michael Lobo and Digambar Kamat, were adjourned by Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar after Amit Patkar, the petitioner, objected to the introduction of any witnesses or evidence. The matter is posted for March 22.
The two MLAs asked the Speaker for new applications during the hearing in order to lead witnesses, lead evidence, and cross-examine the petitioner. However, Adv. Abhijit Gosavi, the lawyer for Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar, vehemently objected, claiming that this was just an attempt to drag out the proceedings.
The Speaker was notified by Adv. Gosavi that the proceedings under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution are summary proceedings and must be finished within a certain amount of time. He said that the Tenth Schedule procedures are not similar to a court trial or departmental procedures for disciplinary action against an employee, citing a decision made by the Supreme Court in the case of Jagjit Singh v. State of Haryana and others.
Adv Gosavi urged the Speaker to reject the applications of both opponents, stating that since the disqualification petition rule only allows for documentary evidence, there is no way to allow such leading of evidence or anything similar.
The primary disqualification petition that Patkar filed in July 2022 is still a pending argument.
The Speaker was served with disqualification petitions by the Congress president against Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and then Leader of the Opposition Michael Lobo for their voluntary resignations from the Congress party.
