Ranchi, Sep 11 (IANS) Jharkhand assembly Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari Monday reserved judgement on the petitions seeking disqualification of three independent legislators and said an "open court" will be held Sep 13 on the matter.

R.K. Jain, a Supreme Court advocate, and S.B. Gagodia of the Jharkhand High Court appeared on the behalf of the three legislators - Stephen Marandi, Kamlesh Singh and Enos Ekka.

Singh and Ekka were among the four rebels who resigned last week from the council of ministers, leaving the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Arjun Munda in a minority.

The governor has asked Munda to prove his majority on the floor of the house Sep 14.

Legislators of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads the NDA, had complaints against the three legislators alleging that they had violated the constitution.

The speaker had Sep 7 served notice to the three seeking their reply by Monday. Their lawyers pleaded for at least a week's time to file their replies.

After the hearing, the speaker told the reporters: "Their plea is under my consideration. Their plea and my constitutional obligation both are under my consideration.

"We will have an open court on Sep 13," the speaker said.

Meanwhile, activists of the opposition United Progressive Alliance (UPA) demonstrated at the assembly complex protesting the speaker's notice.

Hundreds of UPA workers and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) state president Gautam Sagar Rana were detained briefly.