The Madras high court on Thursday dismissed a petition by DMDK leader Vijayakanth challenging the resolution of the Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly suspending him from the House sittings for 10 days continuously.
“None of the contentions raised by the petitioner are acceptable and I find that the parameters laid down by the apex court for the exercise of the power of judicial review are not satisfied,” said Justice V. Ramasubramanian.
Vijayakanth contended that the report of the Privileges Committee was not furnished to all members of the Assembly and thus the suspension could not continue over two sessions and Assembly proceedings would result in a stalemate in the absence of the Leader of Opposition.
The judge said the petitioner was not complaining that he was not furnished with a copy of the report. His complaint was that the copies of the report were not furnished to other members of the House.
The only person who could have effectively defended him was the deputy leader of his own party. To him, the copy of the report was furnished.
Therefore, the requirement actually stands fulfilled on first principles.
“Non-furnishing of the copies cannot also lead to an allegation of mala fide exercise of power,” the judge said.