LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, March 24: In a major development, the Jharkhand assembly today passed the amendments in “Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha Rules of Disqualification from Membership on Defection – 2006 “ allowing common citizens to file a petition in the defection case.
Now any citizen can file a petition in the matter of defection in the Speaker’s Tribunal under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.
The special committee of the assembly had recommended the deletion of the power of suo motu cognizance by the speaker in the defection case. On the basis of this recommendation of the committee, JMM MLA Stephen Marandi had placed a proposal related to it on the Table of the House. On this, objections were sought from the members till March 14. The chairman of the committee was Stephen Marandi.
This amendment has been taken in light of the decision of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had ruled in 2013 that under the Defection Act, an outsider can also raise the matter. Jharkhand Legislative Assembly is the first assembly in the country which is amending the rules in light of this decision.
Earlier only the speaker had the right to take suo-moto cognizance in the case of defection. This system has been abolished in the new amendment.
