Justice Gavai questioned, “Did we err by not taking action at that time and issuing contempt? We are not concerned with politicians’ statements but with the individual who faced a similar situation.”
New Delhi, Apr 3 – The Supreme Court has reserved its decision on petitions regarding the delay by the Telangana Assembly Speaker in ruling on the disqualification of some BRS MLAs who switched to the Congress.
A bench consisting of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from all involved parties.
Justice Gavai questioned, “Did we err by not taking action at that time and issuing contempt? We are not concerned with politicians’ statements but with the individual who faced a similar situation.”
During the hearing, senior advocate Aryama Sundaram, representing the petitioners, contended that the Speaker must decide within a reasonable timeframe. He noted that the matter had been pending before the High Court due to the petitioners’ own plea and emphasized the necessity of setting a time limit.
“It is time to establish a short deadline. Their intent is evident. The Leader of the Party in the Legislature, in the Speaker’s presence, states that nothing will happen. I urge the court to impose a time limit for the decision,” he submitted.
Previously, the apex court had strongly objected to Reddy’s statement in the House, where he allegedly asserted that no by-elections would be held even if BRS MLAs defected to the Congress.
The court remarked that such statements in the Assembly undermined the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court Questions Telangana Speaker Over Delay in Disqualifying Defected BRS MLAs
On March 27, while responding to opposition MLAs’ concerns during discussions on the Demands for Grants for 2025-26, Reddy invoked constitutional immunity from judicial scrutiny over legislative proceedings and reiterated that there would be no by-elections in Telangana.
Notably, Reddy had made a similar remark last August regarding the bail granted to BRS leader K. Kavitha and former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
He had reportedly questioned, “How did Kavitha get bail in five months, while Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia got it only after 15 months, and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is yet to receive it?”
One of the petitions challenges a November 2024 order by the Telangana High Court in a case concerning the disqualification of three BRS MLAs. Another petition deals with seven more legislators who also defected to the Congress.
In November 2024, a division bench of the Telangana High Court stated that the Assembly Speaker must decide on the disqualification petitions against the three MLAs within a “reasonable time.”
ALSO READ: Supreme Court Issues Notice to Telangana Over Delay in BRS MLA Disqualification Pleas
The high court’s division bench passed this ruling after hearing appeals against an earlier order by a single judge on September 9, 2024.
The single judge had instructed the Telangana Assembly Secretary to present the disqualification petitions before the Speaker and set a hearing schedule within four weeks.
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