The Uttarakhand High Court today asked state assembly speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal to file a counter affidavit on a petition challenging the disqualification of nine rebel Congress MLAs. Responding to apprehensions expressed by the disqualified MLAs that the Election Commission might hold bypoll to the vacant seats represented by them pending hearing of their petition, the court said if it were to happen, they were at liberty to approach the court and seek its protection. <br/><br/>However, it refused to issue an interim order on the petition as a similar petition was pending before a division bench of the High Court.<br/>The Speaker had disqualified nine Congress MLAs under the anti-defection law in the state on March 27.