Chennai, Jul 14 (PTI): Puducherry Congress MLA N Dhanavelou on Tuesday moved the Madras High Court challenging the Assembly Speaker's order disqualifying him as member of the legislature.

Admitting the plea, Justice K Ravichandrabaabu ordered notices to the office of the Speaker, government whip R K R Anantharaman and the Election Commission returnable in four weeks.

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Dhanavelou who had been under suspension since January 16, was disqualified on July 10 for his alleged anti-party activities.

In his petition, the legislator alleged that due opportunity was not provided to him before passing the disqualification order.

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"On this sole ground alone, the order is liable to be set aside," he submitted.

Moreover, the facts of the case do not attract Schedule X (anti-defection law) of the Constitution under which the disqualification order has been passed, he said in the plea.

"The allegations levelled are very general in nature and based on inadmissible evidences. The acts alleged will not attract the anti-defection law," Dhanavelou submitted.

The order dated July 10 is arbitrary, unreasonable, violative of principles of natural justice and infringes the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, the petitioner said.

The rebel MLA had been criticising the Congress governmentin Puducherry for over a year.

He had also levelled charges against the chief minister and presented a petition to the Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi.PTI COR

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)