The petition specifically names the following legislators as respondents: Arikepudi Gandhi, Prakash Goud, Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy, P. Srinivas Reddy, Kale Yadayya, Mahipal Reddy, and M. Sanjay Kumar.
NEW DELHI: Today (10th Feb): The Supreme Court heard a petition filed by Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR), the Working President of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The petition was regarding the disqualification of legislators who had defected to the Congress party.
ALSO READ: BRS Approaches Supreme Court Seeking Action Against Defected MLAs
KTR approached the court claiming that the Speaker of the Telangana Assembly was delaying the decision on the disqualification petitions filed against these Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
The petition specifically names the following legislators as respondents: Arikepudi Gandhi, Prakash Goud, Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy, P. Srinivas Reddy, Kale Yadayya, Mahipal Reddy, and M. Sanjay Kumar.
During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Assembly Secretary, informed the court that more time was needed to gather additional information from the Speaker.
ALSO READ: BRS to Challenge Turncoat MLAs’ Disqualification in Supreme Court
“Discussions with the Speaker are ongoing, and we are confident that the necessary details will be submitted soon,” Rohatgi assured the court.
However, the Supreme Court bench expressed concern over the delay in resolving the matter, pointing out that it had been ten months since the issue was first raised.
The bench questioned, “Why has it taken so long to reach a decision on this matter?”
Despite the court’s concerns, it accepted Rohatgi’s request for more time and agreed to postpone the next hearing.
The special leave petition requests the disqualification of Kadiyam Srihari, T Venkata Rao, and Danam Nagender. Additionally, the BRS had previously approached the High Court regarding these three MLAs, which resulted in the court directing the Speaker to resolve the petitions within a reasonable time.
The party plans to justify directly approaching the Supreme Court regarding the seven MLAs by referencing the outcome of the High Court’s judgment concerning the three turncoat MLAs—Nagender, Venkat Rao, and Kadiyam.
Previously, a single judge of the Telangana High Court instructed the assembly secretary to secure a timeline from the Speaker’s office for deciding the disqualification petitions against the three MLAs. However, the assembly secretary filed a writ appeal, and a division bench of the High Court set aside the single judge’s order, leaving the matter for the Speaker to resolve within a reasonable time.
Two BRS MLAs have now filed the Special Leave Petition, claiming that despite six months passing since the High Court’s order, the Speaker has yet to issue notices to the three defectors. BRS counsel, Mohith Rao, stated that they are relying on the Keisham Meghachandra case, which set limits for constitutional authorities.
The next hearing will take place on February 18.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
