Speaker issues fresh notices to Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari

Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has issued fresh notices to MLAs Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari in the BRS disqualification case. Following Supreme Court directions, the Speaker has expedited the process and is expected to take a decision after legal consultation.

Hyderabad: Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has served notices to Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender and Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari to respond to the disqualification petition filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

Acting on the complaint lodged by the BRS that ten of its MLAs had defected to Congress, the Speaker had served notices to them in the past. Of these, eight had submitted their affidavits and their cross examination was under progress. However, Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari had sought time to respond to the Speaker’s notice. The Supreme Court, after hearing the petition filed by the BRS, had asked the Speaker to act on the disqualification petition by October 31. As the deadline elapsed, the Speaker sought an extension of two more months.

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Meanwhile, the BRS filed another petition against the Speaker and the apex court took a serious view of the delay in acting on the disqualification petition. The apex court, issuing a contempt notice to the Speaker, directed him to act within four weeks and decide on where he wanted to celebrate the New Year eve.

Accordingly, the Speaker has expedited the hearing and issued notices to the two MLAs again on Thursday. The Speaker is expected to announce his decision on the defections after seeking legal opinion and recommendations.