Speaker reserves ruling on Dr Umesh Jadhav ’s resignation

Bengaluru: In what could be a first move of its kind in the history of the Indian parliamentary system, Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar conducted a ‘Lok Adalat’ kind of hearing on the resignation plea of Chincholi MLA Dr Umesh Jadhav who has joined the BJP and is planning to take on Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge in the Kalaburagi Lok Sabha seat.

After hearing the plea from representatives of Chincholi, who appealed to Mr Jadhav to reconsider his resignation and stay back with the Congress, Mr Ramesh Kumar reserved his ruling saying he needed to get more legal opinions on the issue.

Speaking to reporters later, the Speaker remarked that Schedule 10 of the Representation of People`s Act needs a drastic and complete overhaul which  only Parliament can do. “To convince myself if the legislator who has resigned  has taken his voters into confidence, I had to conduct such a hearing,” he explained.

“Though the disqualification petition is pending before me, I also have a ruling of the high court division bench in front of me. I have to follow the high court direction also and have to take a decision on the resignation. However, I cannot specify the time limit within which I will be giving the judgment,'' he said.