Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 17: The Supreme Court on Monday sharply criticised Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar for failing to act on disqualification petitions against 10 Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs who defected to the ruling Congress, calling the delay “gross contempt.” The court was hearing a petition filed by BRS leader Kaushik Reddy, who alleged that the Speaker ignored the apex court’s July 31 directive to decide the petitions within three months— a deadline that expired on October 31.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, along with Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria, expressed strong displeasure at the Speaker’s inaction. “It is for him to decide whether he wants to comply or face contempt. This is gross contempt,” the CJI remarked, warning that the matter must be concluded by next week. The Bench further noted that the Speaker does not enjoy constitutional immunity when handling cases under the Tenth Schedule and quipped that he must choose “where he wants to spend his New Year’s Eve.”

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Speaker, assured the court that a decision would be delivered within two weeks, acknowledging the seriousness of the court’s warning.

The dispute dates back to 2023, when 10 BRS legislators, including Danam Nagender, Kadiyam Srihari, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, and Tellam Venkat Rao, crossed over to the Congress after its electoral victory in the state. On July 31, the Supreme Court overturned a Telangana High Court ruling that allowed the Speaker unlimited time and specifically ordered him to decide the disqualification pleas within three months.

The Speaker’s prolonged delay has fuelled political tensions in the state, with BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao asserting that by-elections are now “inevitable.” Earlier in August, BRS MLAs had even submitted a disqualification plea at the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises after being unable to meet the speaker.

The defected MLAs represent constituencies including Khairatabad, Bhadrachalam, Station Ghanpur, Banswada, Jagtial, Serilingampally, Rajendranagar, Gadwal, Patancheru and Chevella.