Monday, June 6 2005 11:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (Jun 6, 2005) fixed June 10 for hearing the petition filed by former Bihar MLAs challenging the decision to dissolve the State Assembly.

A Bench comprising Justice P V Reddi and Justice Arijit Pasayat asked senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the MLAs, to serve a copy of the petition to the Attorney General or any law officer of the Centre.

The petition was filed on May 31 by four former legislators - Rameshwar Prasad Chaurasia (BJP), Kishore Kumar Munna (Independent), Rampravesh Rai (JDU) and Dr Anil Kumar (breakaway LJP) - who were all elected in the 2005 elections.

Making both the Centre and Governor Buta Singh the respondents, the petition stated that 22 of the 29 MLAs of Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) had agreed to merge with Janata Dal United (JDU) and the party leader Nitish Kumar was to stake claim before the Governor on May 23.

On other two similar petitions on the issue the Apex Court said they will be taken up along with the petition filed by the MLAs.