Maha: Two BJP MLAs complain in Assembly about courts 'infringing' their rights

File Photo/PTI

Two Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs on Wednesday complained about courts infringing their rights by passing undue orders and sought Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's intervention in the matter.

Narwekar as well as deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said they would look into the issue, PTI reported.

BJP MLA Captain Tamil Selvan raised a point of order in the assembly regarding the issues of residents of a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme in his constituency Sion-Koliwada in Mumbai.

A court said that MLAs should not to hold meetings in the SRA office, he said, adding "this is indeed serious and amounts to infringement of our rights as MLAs."

Ashish Shelar, another BJP MLA from Mumbai, cited two similar instances.

"During the coronavirus pandemic, I noticed that a disinfectant available in the market was more effective than the one being used by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and I informed officials about it through a letter. BMC additional commissioner also held a meeting. But later, when somebody went to the court, the court issued a directive that an MLA must not hold meetings in the BMC office," he said.

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A court had also taken a similar objection when he had held a meeting with BMC officials regarding an issue related to a dilapidated building, Shelar said.

"We do not want to go against the court's directives. But as people's representatives, don't we have the right to hold meetings with officials regarding the issues of residents of our constituencies," he asked, requesting the Speaker to look into the matter.

Fadnavis informed that Tamil Salvan had brought the issue to his notice and said the issues raised by Shelar were also serious.

"The government will discuss it with the advocate general and take it up with the courts. Also, the government will approach the Supreme Court, if required," the deputy CM said.

Speaker Narwekar said he will communicate with the courts in this regard.

Both the judiciary and legislative assembly are independent entities and must not interfere in each other's domains, he said. (PTI)