Telangana HC grants more time to defected MLAs

The Telangana High Court has granted additional time to ten BRS MLAs accused of defecting to the Congress party, despite objections from petitioners who argued that the Speaker dismissed disqualification pleas without considering key evidence.

By Our Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday, granted additional time for counters to ten MLAs who were elected from BRS party and allegedly defected to the ruling Congress party.

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The division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin was dealing with writ pleas filed by BRS legislators challenging the Assembly Speaker’s decision to dismiss pleas seeking disqualification of the alleged defectors.

The defected MLAs were already granted three weeks time on the previous occasion for submitting their response, however the MLAs sought further time on Wednesday. The petitioners’ counsel argued that the Speaker had dismissed the disqualification petitions without considering relevant and material evidence.

It was also contended that one of the MLAs had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket, which, according to the petitioners, constituted clear and “foolproof” evidence of defection but was ignored and opposed granting more time. The court, considered MLAs request and granted further time, adjourned the matter to June 26.