Thursday, March 10 2005 22:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Noting that the Supreme Court order on Jharkhand Assembly has created a "disturbing situation", Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today (March 10, 2005) suggested that a Presidential reference may be made to seek the apex court's opinion so that constitutional balance can be restored.

A day after the court advanced the trial of strength by four days and ordered videography of the proceedings in the Assembly, the issue rocked both houses of Parliament. Chatterjee called a meeting of leaders of all political parties from which BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) staged a walk out.

After the two-hour meeting, Chatterjee issued a strong statement in which he said the preponderant majority of the leaders expressed their "grave concern" over the developments.

Because of the order the contours of the area of supremacy of different organs, especially of the legislature, have got blurred which may upset the fine constitutional balance, he said.

"With all respect to the Hon'ble Supreme Court and without at all going into the political merits of the issue, to my mind, the order of the court has created a disturbing situation," he said.

However, while walking out of the meeting the BJP said it was against any discussion on the court order as there was a bar on it in Parliament under the constitution. The party said UPA (United Progressive Alliance) constituents were keen on discussing this issue as the court verdict has gone against them.

"Only because the court has given a ruling in favour of BJP you are condemning it," Party leader Sushma Swaraj told reporters.