Monday, September 11 2006 14:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Jharkhand Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari today began hearing disqualification petitions filed against three MLA's who were represented by their lawyers.

The three MLAs are, Enos Ekka, Kamlesh Singh and Stephen Marandi. Ekka and Singh had recently resigned from the Arjun Munda government.

Supreme Court advocate R K Jain, representing Ekka and Singh, said he would seek at least one week's time for reply ''though we need two weeks because the notices were issued in very short time''.

Marandi is represented by his advocate S B Gadodia.

The Speaker had issued the notices on petitions seeking disqualification of the three legislators under the provisions of 10th Schedule of the Constitution pending before him.

Singh's continuance in the assembly has been challenged on the ground that he had violated the whip of his party NCP during last year's trust vote.

Against Marandi, the petition says he was elected as an Independent but later joined Jharkhand Vikas Party. Ekka's continuance has been challenged by the Jharkhand Party. It had contended Ekka had violated party whip and joined the NDA.

Meanwhile, the UPA and Left parties demonstrated near the Jharkhand assembly to protest the Speaker's hearing, ahead of the trust vote to be moved on September 14.

RJD state unit president Gautam Sagar Rana and some other protestors were taken into custody, Senior Superintendent of Police R K Mullick said.

The UPA-Left combine had also demonstrated near Namdhari's official residence yesterday (Sept 10, 2006).