BRS moves Supreme Court seeking disqualification of defected MLAs

While a writ petition was filed seeking directions on seven of its MLAs, a special leave petition was filed on behalf of the party seeking directions with respect to the defection of Danam Nagender, Tellam Venkatrao and Kadiyam Srihari

Hyderabad: Upping the ante in its fight against the Congress in Telangana, the BRS approached the Supreme Court and filed two separate petitions, seeking directions for action against 10 MLAs who defected to the ruling Congress.

Following deliberations with former Minister and senior leader T Harish Rao on Wednesday, the party advocates filed the petitions in the Supreme Court.

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While a writ petition was filed seeking directions on seven of its MLAs — Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Kale Yadaiah, Sanjay Kumar, Krishnamohan Reddy, Mahipal Reddy, Prakash Goud and Arekapudi Gandhi — a special leave petition was filed on behalf of the party seeking directions with respect to the defection of Danam Nagender, Tellam Venkatrao and Kadiyam Srihari.

In its petitions, the BRS pointed out the inaction of the Telangana Assembly Speaker, who, despite receiving complaints nine months ago and the Telangana High Court directions around three months ago, was yet to take a decision.

BRS MLAs Padi Kaushik Reddy and KP Vivekanand filed the petitions, stating that no progress was made, with the Speaker not even issuing notices to the turncoat MLAs till date.

The petition also cited the Keisham Meghachandra Singh case, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the Speakers must decide on disqualification petitions within three months.

The BRS has requested the apex court to direct the Speaker to decide on the matter within four weeks.

Earlier, a single Bench of the High Court had directed the Assembly Secretariat to forward complaints to the Speaker and set hearing dates.

However, the Chief Justice’s Bench overturned this, ruling that the Speaker could decide the matter “at an appropriate time” within the Assembly’s five-year term, as per the Prevention of Party Defection Act under the 10th Schedule.