Speaker Tells Madras HC Resignations of Six AIADMK MLAs Accepted After Inquiry

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar has informed the Madras High Court in Chennai that the resignation letters of six AIADMK MLAs were accepted only after conducting a thorough inquiry to ensure that the lawmakers stepped down voluntarily.

The Speaker made the submission through a counter-affidavit filed in response to a plea moved by AIADMK whip Afri S S Krishnakurthy, who challenged the Speaker's decision to accept the resignations.

In the counter-affidavit, the Speaker explained the procedure followed before approving the resignations. The Speaker stated that the MLAs had submitted their resignation letters written in their own handwriting. Individual inquiries were subsequently conducted with each of the legislators to ascertain their intentions.

The Speaker maintained that the letters were accepted only after reaching full satisfaction that the resignations were made out of the MLAs' own free will. Contending that the acceptance of the resignations was completely valid under the law, the Speaker sought appropriate court orders to dismiss the petitions challenging the decision.

According to the petitioner, the Speaker did not appear directly before the court after a notice was issued. Instead, the Assembly secretary submitted the counter-affidavit, stating that she was authorized to do so on behalf of the Speaker.

A first bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan recorded the submissions and adjourned the hearing in the matter to September 1.