New Delhi Feb 25 PTI The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a plea filed by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari against an order of the West Bengal Assembly Speaker dismissing his petition seeking Mukul Roys disqualification as an MLA West Bengal Speaker Biman Banerjee on February 11 had dismissed the petition filed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari seeking Mukul Roys disqualification as an MLA under the anti-defection law for switching sides after elections Roy a former BJP national vice-president had defected to the ruling TMC in June last year A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai asked Adhikari to move the Calcutta high court against the Speakers decision This writ petition is filed under article 32 challenging speaker decision dismissing Mukul Roys appeal against disqualification as MLA After hearing the counsel we are of considered view that the petitioner can approach High Court assailing speaker order the bench said The top court also took note of the submission that Roys term as the Public Accounts Committee PAC Chairman is only for one year and asked the High Court to decide the matter within a month At the outset the bench asked senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan appearing for Adhikari what was the fundamental right of the petitioner which was violated What is the extraordinary in this what fundamental rights involved Everything being filed under Article 32 the bench asked Vaidyanathan told the bench that the Speakers decision is wholly arbitrary With regard to observations made by the high court on September 28 2021 the apex court said the observations would be treated as prima facie Needless to say the observation made by HC while passing order dated September 28 2021 is prima facie and parties are to take all contentions available to them under law Considering the the tenure of Mukul Roy as Chairman of Public Accounts Committee is only for one year we request the high court to decide the petitions expeditiously and not later than a period of one months the bench said The apex court was hearing appeals filed by West Bengal Assembly Speaker and its Secretary and the Returning Officer against the Calcutta High Courts order The high court had asked Banerjee to take a decision on the petition for disqualification of Roy as a member of the House by October 7 Adhikari leader of the Opposition on June 17 had filed the petition before the Speaker seeking Roys disqualification which was dismissed on February 11 Ambika Roy BJP MLA of the state had moved the high court in July challenging Roys election as PAC Chairman and prayed for nomination of an opposition member to the post as per tradition PTI PKS SA

Kolkata Jan 20 PTI The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed that the administration must ensure that no loudspeaker is used near the residence of BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari after 8 pmHearing a petition by Adhikari on the security of his residence Justice Rajasekhar Mantha said that the MLAs house at Contai in Purba Medinipur district is in a sensitive area and asked the administration to intimate the court about norms of giving permission for holding rallies or meetings near itThe leader of the opposition enjoys the status of a cabinet minister the court saidIt imposed a ban on the use of loudspeakers near the BJP leaders residence after 8 pmThe court also directed that the central force personnel deployed for the security of Adhikari and the state police would decide how CCTVs would be installed in and around his residenceThe next date of hearing in on February 14 PTI dc NN NN