NDTV Correspondent

Friday, June 7, 2002 (Mumbai):


Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Arun Gujarathi today
agreed to extend the time sought for replying to a show cause notice
issued against five MLAs for openly declaring their withdrawal of
support to the Democratic Front combine.

Earlier, the speaker had ordered the five MLAs to reply to the notice
within two days.

However, following filing of a petition by the NCP MLAs in the Bombay
High Court today, the speaker has now extended the time period to
June 11.

The petitioners had alleged that only two days time had been given to
them to file replies to notices whereas under the rules, a seven-day
period was essential in this regard.