SC closes hearing in BRS defection case, asks Speaker to share verdict copies in two days

The Supreme Court has closed hearings on petitions filed by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) seeking disqualification of MLAs who defected to the ruling Congress. The decision came after the Assembly Speaker informed the court that he had completed the inquiry and delivered his verdict, dismissing petitions against 10 MLAs for lack of evidence.

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Thursday closed the hearing on petitions filed by the BRS on disqualification of MLAs who defected from the party to the ruling Congress, after being informed that the Assembly Speaker had delivered verdict on the complaints.

A bench led by Justice Sanjay Karol was hearing the matter when senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Speaker, told the apex court that the Speaker had completed the inquiry into the disqualification petitions and passed a final order. He submitted that the proceedings before the Speaker had concluded and the petitions stood disposed of.

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Accepting the submission, the bench observed that there was no need to continue with the hearing once the Speaker had taken a decision, and declared the proceedings before the court closed.

Counsel appearing for BRS, however, told the bench that copies of the Speaker’s order had not yet been furnished to the petitioners. Taking note of the objection, the court directed the Speaker’s office to provide copies of the verdict to the petitioners within two days. The bench also ordered that documents, records of the proceedings, and any additional details sought by the petitioners be supplied within four days.

The petitions before the Supreme Court were filed by BRS seeking disqualification of MLAs who had allegedly defected to the ruling side, and had earlier questioned the delay in the Speaker taking a decision on the complaints. On Wednesday, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar delivered his verdict on two pending petitions and dismissed all the petitions filed against 10 turncoat MLAs, citing lack of evidence.