The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly to decide within three months the disqualification petitions filed against 10 Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs, who allegedly defected to the ruling Congress party.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai allowed the appeal filed by BRS leader Padi Kaushik Reddy, challenging the November 22, 2024 judgment of the Telangana High Court’s division bench, which had interfered with a single-judge order that directed expeditious disposal of the disqualification petitions.
Political Defections Threaten Democracy: SC
While pronouncing the judgment, the Supreme Court expressed concern over political defections, stating they have become a matter of serious national concern and have the potential to “disrupt democracy if not curbed.”
The CJI remarked that the Speaker must act promptly in such disqualification matters and should not allow the MLAs to prolong the proceedings. The court further directed that adverse inferences may be drawn if the legislators attempt to delay the process.
Speaker Not Immune When Acting as Tribunal
The bench underscored that while deciding disqualification petitions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, the Speaker functions as a tribunal, and therefore, does not enjoy constitutional immunity.
Citing Parliamentary Debates
In support of its reasoning, the Supreme Court referred to parliamentary speeches by leaders such as Rajesh Pilot and Devendra Nath Munshi, to emphasize that entrusting the Speaker with the task of deciding disqualification petitions was intended to prevent delays that would otherwise occur in courts.
Background and Next Steps
The verdict came after the court had reserved its decision on April 3, 2025. The disqualification petitions were filed after 10 BRS legislators shifted allegiance to the Congress party in Telangana, a move that sparked political and legal controversy. The detailed judgment is awaited, but the direction to decide the matter within three months is now binding on the Speaker.
