Disqualification Row: Supreme Court Reserves Verdict On Pleas Alleging Delay By Telangana Assembly Speaker

The Supreme Court of India reserved its verdict on Thursday regarding pleas that challenge the alleged delay by the Telangana Assembly Speaker in deciding on petitions seeking the disqualification of BRS MLAs who defected to the Congress.

Case Details

A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih heard submissions from all parties before reserving the verdict. The case revolves around two significant petitions:

One petition challenges the November 2024 order of the Telangana High Court, which had addressed disqualification petitions concerning three BRS MLAs.

The 2nd petition pertains to the remaining seven MLAs who defected to the Congress.

High Court’s Verdict Under Scrutiny

In November 2024, a division bench of the Telangana High Court ruled that the Assembly Speaker must decide on the disqualification petitions against the three MLAs within a “reasonable time”.

This decision was made on appeals against the September 9, 2024, order of a single judge. The single judge had directed the Secretary of the Telangana Assembly to present the disqualification petitions before the Speaker, instructing that a hearing schedule be fixed within 4 weeks.

What’s At Stake?

The case has drawn significant attention as it touches upon the anti-defection law and the procedural responsibilities of the Assembly Speaker. The delay in addressing these petitions has raised questions about the timely implementation of constitutional provisions concerning the disqualification of legislators.

Court’s verdict is expected to clarify the legal boundaries regarding the Speaker’s role and the deadline for deciding such cases.

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