Friday, December 23 2005 20:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today (Dec 23, 2005) said that the decision of the Lower House to expel 10 MPs will be conveyed to the Election Commission and anybody was free to go to court against the decision.

"The decision of the House that they have been expelled will be conveyed to the Election Commission. It is for them to decide on the consequences (by-elections)," the Speaker told reporters after the conclusion of the Winter Session of the House.

Asked whether there will be by-elections to these vacancies, he said, "In my personal opinion, I do not see any bar on this," but made it clear that it was is no disqualification.

The Speaker termed the expulsion as 'most unfortunate' but said he had no opinion whether these members were guilty or not as the decision followed recommendations of the report of a Committee appointed by him to go into the details of the two scams.

To another question whether any criminal proceedings could be initiated against the expelled MPs, Chatterjee said there are many competent lawyers in the House.

About possibility of the expelled MPS approaching courts against the decision, the speaker said, "I can not stop any body going to court."

About Opposition Leader L K Advani's statement in Lok Sabha that the expulsion order by the House was not commensurate to the 'stupidity' committed by the MPs, Chatterjee said "I leave it to the judgement of the House."