Supreme Court declines challenge to AIADMK proceedings decision

The Supreme Court on October 9 declined to entertain a challenge to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker’s decision to close disqualification proceedings against 21 AIADMK legislators, leaving the legal questions open for a future appropriate proceeding. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant declined to interfere with the Madras High Court’s dismissal of a petition filed by advocate P.V. Selvakumar. The bench questioned whether Selvakumar, whom reports describe as neither a legislator nor an authorised representative pursuing the case, could challenge the Speaker’s decision. The dispute followed a May 13 confidence vote in which 25 AIADMK legislators supported the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government led by C. Joseph Vijay, despite their party’s direction to vote against it. Disqualification proceedings were initiated the next day under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which contains the anti-defection provisions. The AIADMK later sought withdrawal of proceedings against 21 legislators, and the Speaker accepted that request. The other four legislators had resigned from the party, according to reports.