Supreme Court issues notice to Telangana Speaker on disqualification pleas against BRS MLAs
The Supreme Court issued notice to Telangana Speaker G. Prasad Kumar, directing him to decide disqualification pleas against ten BRS MLAs who joined Congress. The court warned of contempt action, emphasizing that constitutional immunity does not shield him from accountability.
Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Telangana Speaker G Prasad Kumar, directing him to act on the disqualification pleas against BRS MLAs by next week. The court said the Speaker must decide the matter or face contempt, observing that the delay amounted to gross contempt of court.
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by BRS MLA P Kaushik Reddy seeking the disqualification of ten BRS MLAs who defected to the Congress after the 2023 Assembly elections.
On July 31, the court had directed the Speaker to decide the disqualification petitions within three months. The deadline expired on October 31, after which the Speaker sought an extension of two months.
Objecting to the request for additional time, the BRS moved the court. After hearing the petition on Monday, the Supreme Court warned the Speaker of possible contempt action.
The Chief Justice is learnt to have asked the Speaker to either decide the disqualification pleas against the defected BRS MLAs by next week, or spend New Year’s Eve in jail.
Legal news agency Live Law reported on X that the Chief Justice of India said the Speaker did not enjoy constitutional immunity.
“He has to decide where he has to celebrate his NYE,” Live Law quoted the CJI.
