http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7BE6BED0E5-B0CA-4096-BA15-72435A65C709%7D&CATEGORYNAME=NATL
Panaji, Aug 23: Granting interim relief to disqualified Goa MLA Mathany Saldanha, the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court today allowed him to sit in the House, but restricted his rights, leaving a question mark on the scheduled by-poll announced in his constituency of Cortalim. Admitting his petition challenging the Speaker's order disqualifying him from being a member of the Goa Legislative Assembly, a two-judge Bench allowed Saldanha to attend the House, but restricted his rights in the Assembly wherein he would not be able to vote or participate in any debate, until hearing of his petition. The Election Commission had announced September 28 as the date for the by-polls to Cortalim constituency, after Speaker Francisco Sardinha had notified it of the vacancy. However, Sardinha today said he would intimate the EC that in view of the order, there appeared to be no vacancy in the constituency. "I have not yet received today's order, but as soon as I do, I will notify the commission that in view of the High Court order, it appears that no such vacancy exists. After that, it is up to the Election Commission", Sardinha told reporters here.
---------------------------------------------- Regards, Carlos
