Antony Raju disqualified, can no longer resign; explains Speaker's office

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The office of the Speaker said that as Antony Raju, convicted in the evidence tampering case, has been disqualified, he cannot resign anymore. Antony Raju has already been disqualified after the court sentenced him to three years in prison. The assembly secretariat has informed that his resignation cannot be accepted in this situation.

Soon after the court verdict in the evidence tampering case came, Antony Raju had taken a move to resign from the post of MLA before the official notification of the assembly secretariat was issued. However, since the disqualification came into effect from the moment the court verdict was issued, his resignation is legally irrelevant.

According to the Representation of the People Act, if a representative of the people is convicted, the disqualification automatically takes effect from the time the verdict is issued. Since a disqualified person does not have the right to continue in that position, 'self-resignation' has no legal validity here. The assembly secretariat will issue an official notification in this regard soon. With this, he will be officially removed from the house.