Chennai: Madras High Court on Wednesday will hear a petition of the 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs disqualified by the Speaker’s on grounds defection.

The MLAs made their representation through advocate PR Raman who took up the issue before Justice M Duraiswami.

The judge sought a proper plea for the matter to be considered on an urgent basis.

It was on Monday that Speaker P Dhanapal disqualified the MLAs who announced withdrawal of support to the Chief Minister.

Assembly secretary K Boopathy had said the action was according to the 1986 anti-defection ruless.

In fact, 19 MLAs had personally given letters to the Governor withdrawing support to the government. But, MLA from Cumbum STK Jakkaiyan shifted alliegance from the Dhinakaran camp to that of Palaniswami.

Though the Speaker asked them to be present before him on September 14, 18 of them sought more time. However, the Speaker decided to take the step police of disqualifying them, giving Palaniswami the edge.