Kiran Bedi hails SC verdict on BJP members nomination in Puducherry Assembly

Lt Governor Kiran Bedi Thursday hailed the Supreme Court verdict upholding the nomination of three BJP members to the Puducherry Assembly. Hours after the court ruling, Bedi said she was "exceedingly grateful and happy" to see the judgment passed by the Supreme court validating nomination of the three MLAs to Puducherry Assembly by the Union Government as per law.

"We thank the three MLAs for their forbearance as they had gone through many unpleasant situations, sometimes highly disrespectful, to finally achieve this judgment today," she said adding "in the end law has prevailed." The MLAs also welcomed the apex court order.

Bedi had administered the oath of office to the three members, V Saminathan, KG Shankar and S Selvaganapathi, in her chamber on July 4, 2017, but the territorial assembly speaker V Vaithilingam declined to recognise them as MLAs and had cancelled their nomination.

The issue had then intensified the rift between Bedi and the Congress government with the latter assailing her action as unconstitutional and contended that the Centre had 'unilaterally' nominated the MLAs without consulting the territorial government.

Challenging the speakers' action, the three MLAs moved the Madras High Court, which upheld their nomination. Later, the Congress leaders filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, which Thursday upheld the Centre's decision nominating the three. A bench of justices A K Sikri, Ashok Bhushan and SA Abdul Nazeer said, "We uphold the impugned judgment of the Madras High Court".