Telangana High Court Orders Speaker To Decide On MLAs Disqualification Within Four Weeks

The Telangana High Court has directed the Speaker’s office to decide on the disqualification of MLAs who defected from the BRS party to Congress within four weeks. This follows petitions filed by BRS MLAs and BJP MLA Maheshwar Reddy, who argued that defectors should be disqualified as per Supreme Court guidelines.

Hyderabad: In a pivotal ruling, the Telangana High Court has instructed the Speaker's office to make a decision on the disqualification of MLAs, who defected from their party within four weeks. The court's directive came after hearing petitions on Monday involving MLAs, who switched over their loyalties from the BRS party to the Congress.

Petitions were filed by BRS Party MLAs Padi Kaushik Reddy and KP Vivekananda Goud, seeking the disqualification of Danam Nagender, Kadiam Srihari and Tellam Venkat Rao, who defected to the Congress. BJP MLA Maheshwar Reddy also joined the legal action against Danam Nagender. The petitioners argued that the Speaker had failed to act on the Supreme Court's directive, which mandates the disqualification of defecting MLAs within three months.

Respondents' counsel argued that the High Court lacks the authority to direct the Speaker asserting that the Speaker functions as an independent tribunal. The High Court, having concluded its hearing last month, reserved its judgment and delivered the verdict today, mandating that the Speaker's office decide within four weeks.

In response to the ruling, BRS Party Executive President KTR welcomed the High Court's decision and called by-elections in the constituencies of the MLAs, who defected to the ruling Congress party must be held soon. Former Minister Harish Rao also expressed support, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the defected MLAs would indeed face disqualification as per the High Court's verdict. Another leader Singireddy Niranjan Reddy demanded that Rahul Gandhi should respond to the High Court's verdict.