Kochi, Oct 1 The Kerala High Court on Thursday left it to the state assembly Speaker to take appropriate steps on the question of disqualification of Pala MLA Mani C Kappan following his conviction and sentence in four cheque bounce cases by a Mumbai court.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas said that since Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has been informed of Kappan's conviction and sentence, he can take "necessary steps in accordance with the law".
With the direction, the court disposed of a plea by Maharashtra resident Dinesh Menon seeking a declaration that Kappan, belonging to the Kerala Democratic Party -- a constituent of ruling Congress-led UDF, stands disqualified as a legislator following his conviction and sentence.
The Pala MLA was sentenced to a total of three-and-a-half years together in four cheque bounce cases by the Mumbai court on September 1.
Menon had claimed that the sentences in the four cases, which together come to a total of three-and-a-half-years, are not running concurrently and therefore, the Pala MLA stands disqualified.
The petitioner had also said that he had moved the Kerala HC as there was no action on his representation to the Speaker seeking Kappan's disqualification.
