Early Times Report
jammu, Feb 26 : In a PIL seeking declaration of nomination of eight MLCs as null and void, a high court division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat today directed 'to file reply of private respondents, if any, before February 29, 2016'. The petitioner has sought quashment of Notification/SRO No 122 of April 9, 2015 issued by the law, justice and parliamentary affairs secretary by virtue of which, under sub-section 6 of section 50 of J&K Constitution, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, Ashok Khajuria, Vikramaditya Singh, Ramesh Arora, Saifudin Bhat, Ajatshatru Singh, Mohammad Khurshid Alam and Surinder Mohan Ambardar were nominated as members of J&K Legislative Council against the vacant seats. He has also sought quashment of March 9, 2015 Bulletin-II issued by the law, justice and parliamentary affairs secretary whereunder the eight MLCs were nominated against the seats available in the Upper House, besides seeking to declare their nominations as illegal, unconstitutional, unsustainable and null and void. He submitted for treating their nominations as usurper to the constitution's public position as they lacked eligibility prescribed under sub-section 6 of section 50 of J&K constitution for such nominations as MLCs and also sought direction to respondents to give due representation to socially and economically backward classes in the state, which was the mandate of constitution and intention of legislature. The bench, after hearing the counsels and advocate general, directed to file reply of the private respondents, if any, before February 29, 2016 and hand over its copy to the petitioner. (JNF) |