From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network - Porvorim

Porvorim, Oct 3: Goa Legislative Assembly speaker Dr Pramod Sawant today disallowed the notice, issued by the opposition Congress party to remove him from the chair, claiming that it has to be served when the House is summoned or session is in operation.

Sawant in his order issued to the secretary legislature on Wednesday disallowing the notice said, “Perusal of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business and Constitution of India, as well as the perusal of the opinion of State Advocate General, it becomes amply clear that such a notice for removal of speaker, moved at a time when neither the House has been summoned by the governor nor when session is in operation, cannot be considered.”

“Hence leader of opposition may be accordingly informed that the said notice has been rejected on the grounds of non-maintainability,” the speaker said.

Sawant who had received the notice by the opposition members on September 21 had sought the opinion of state advocate general, Dattaprasad Lawande on the matter.

The advocate general in his opinion given to the speaker said that it is prerogative of the governor to summon the House as she thinks fit with only embargo that six months shall not intervene between two sessions.

Lawande opined, "No summons have been issued till date and as per my information as on date as well, the House has not been summoned.”

“Therefore in my considered opinion, the notice in question cannot be proceeded with as of now. The speaker at an appropriate stage may decide on the issue of notice as and when the House is summoned by the governor,” the AG said.

Goa legislative assembly has 16 Congress, 14 BJP legislators while three each are from Goa Forward Party, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Independents while one legislator is from NCP.