Supreme Court gives Telangana Speaker three weeks to decide on BRS defection cases

The Supreme Court has given Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar three weeks to decide disqualification petitions against 10 BRS MLAs who joined the Congress, warning of contempt proceedings if a decision is not taken within the deadline.

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Friday granted Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar three weeks time to take a decision on disqualification petitions against 10 BRS MLAs who defected to the Congress. The apex court warned of initiating contempt proceedings, if the matter is not concluded within the stipulated time.

A Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and AG Masih was hearing petitions filed by the BRS, which accused the Speaker of delaying action on the disqualification pleas. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Speaker, told the court that proceedings were underway and sought additional time, citing municipal elections and ongoing hearings. He informed the Bench that decisions in some cases had already been delivered, while others were being examined.

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Counsel for the petitioners Mohit Rao countered that the Speaker had conducted only a single hearing in certain cases and questioned the prolonged delay despite repeated opportunities granted earlier. The BRS counsel pointed out that while one BRS MLA contested in Lok Sabha elections on the Congress ticket, another BRS MLA campaigned for his daughter who contested on the Congress ticket and continues to accompany her.

Observing that sufficient time had already been given, the Bench said it would list the matter after three weeks and made it clear that a positive decision was expected from the Speaker by then. “Failing which, we will proceed with contempt,” the court warned, describing the present extension as a final opportunity.