Shillong: Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma dismissed a disqualification petition against eight former United Democratic Party legislators on Friday. The UDP, led by president Metbah Lyngdoh, failed to follow mandatory rules despite receiving warnings. The Speaker cited persistent procedural failures under Rule 6 of the Members of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Rules, 1988.
The petition targeted Kyrmen Shylla, Lahkmen Rymbui, Mayralborn Syiem, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah, Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah, Ollan Singh Suin, Balajied Kupar Synrem, and Pius Marwein. These members moved to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Speaker Sangma rejected a prior filing on October 5 and gave Lyngdoh 10 days to fix the errors. The revised October 14 submission remained defective.
Documents fell short. The petition lacked names and addresses of witnesses, failed to attach copies of show-cause notices from September 21, and missed suspension orders dated September 23. A pen drive containing alleged video footage arrived without identification or authentication. Furthermore, the petitioner failed to verify facts or certify annexures as true copies. The Speaker noted, "The resubmitted petition did not meet the mandatory requirements under Rule 6 of the Members of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1988."
Invoking Rule 7(2), the Speaker tossed the case. The ruling ignores the merits of the Tenth Schedule claims. It stays focused only on the procedural mess. This decision offers the eight former MLAs immediate relief while dealing a blow to the UDP's legal strategy.
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