12 Maharashtra BJP MLAs' Suspension Cancelled By SC

"Suspending the MLAs beyond the sessions is illegal," the SC

The Maharashtra assembly's resolution to suspend 12 BJP MLAs for a year for alleged unconstitutional behavior has been left aside by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court said today, "Suspending the MLAs beyond the sessions is unconstitutional and illegal."

While the rules say suspension can be for the session, the 12 MLAs were suspended for a year beyond the session.

They were suspended last year on July 5 from the assembly after the state government accused them of "misbehaving" with presiding officer Bhaskar Jadhav in the Speaker's chamber.

The names of 12 MLAs are Sanjay Kute, Ashish Shelar, Abhimanyu Pawar, Girish Mahajan, Atul Bhatkhalkar, Parag Alavani, Harish Pimpale, Yogesh Sagar, Jay Kumar Rawat, Narayan Kuche, Ram Satpute and Bunty Bhangdia.

The motion to suspend the MLAs was moved by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab and passed by a voice vote.

Opposition Leader Devendra Fadnavis had termed the allegation as false, and said Mr. Jadhav's account of the incident was just "one-sided".

"This is a false allegation and an attempt to decrease the numbers of opposition benches, as we exposed the government's frauds on the OBC quota in local bodies," Mr. Fadnavis said, adding that BJP members had not abused any presiding officer.