land and Revenue Minister Amar Kumar Bauri once again skipped the hearing being conducted by Speaker Dinesh Oraon while MlA from Daltonganj Alok Kumar Chaurasia turned up for his testimony and cross examination in the MlAs’ anti-defection case.
As per the information provided by the lawyers of the MlAs in question, Bauri had to be admitted in hospital after he felt uneasiness all of a sudden on Friday. He on the last occasion as well had not appeared for his statement and testimony on similar grounds.
“On the last date also, the Speaker had doubly verified his absentee through his advocate and permitted that citing the advocate’s long stint as jurist after he confirmed about medical reports. The case has been delayed already and the Court wanted to hear the matter as soon as possible. That is why the Speaker had gone on cutting down the list of witnesses to size from original 78,” said an Assembly official present in the court during the hearing on Friday.
Chaurasia, on the other hand, repeated similar arguments and quoted the circumstances and turn of events which led to, “merger of the JVM into the BJP. The decision about merging the JVM into the BJP was taken after party leaders met at Daladali,” said the BJP MlA who along with five others after winning on JVM ticket in the Assembly polls had swum into the saffron camps.
At the same time, the Speaker also postponed the trial for June 8 in the light of summer vacation in the high court. Chances are there that the not more than two dates can be given in entire June and also next month since Monsoon Session of Assembly is also to be called during that time.
“With three MlAs pressing and testified before the tribunal so far now there are three others Amar Kumar Bauri, Randhir Singh and Janki Prasad Yadav. We can only pray and hope that the hearing is complete soon. Unless the matter is settled by the Speaker’s tribunal we cannot move to the High Court,” said JVM lawyer RN Sahay.