The ongoing hearing into the disqualification petitions filed by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi leadership against some of its MLAs for allegedly defecting to the ruling Congress has taken an interesting turn.
The matter is likely to land in the Supreme Court again if the contempt petition filed by the BRS leadership against Speaker G. Prasad Kumar is any indication. Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai is reported to have said on Monday that the apex court would hear a petition seeking contempt proceedings against the Telangana Assembly Speaker for allegedly not complying with its direction to decide disqualification pleas against the 10 BRS legislators.
The CJI made the remarks when it was brought to his notice that the Speaker was dragging the disqualification petitions filed against the 10 MLAs T. Prakash Goud, Kale Yadaiah, Gudem Mahipal Reddy, Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy, Tellam Venkat Rao, Arekapudi Gandhi, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, M. Sanjay Kumar, Kadiyam Srihari and Danam Nagender. It was alleged that Mr. Prasad Kumar had not complied with the three month time set by the apex court on July 31 to decide on the matter as the deadline which expired on October 31.
The Speaker on his part has issued summons to the 10 MLAs and completed the process relating to MLAs T. Prakash Goud, Kale Yadaiah, Gudem Mahipal Reddy and Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy. Proceedings in respect of four other MLAs Tellam Venkat Rao, Arekapudi Gandhi, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and M. Sanjay Kumar were launched last week with the advocates on behalf of the four MLAs forcefully arguing in support of their clients claiming that they did not defect to the ruling Congress.
Two other MLAs Kadiyam Srihari and Danam Nagender however did not respond to the summons issued by the Speaker who is chairing the Tribunal constituted under Tenth Schedule of the Constitution dealing with the Anti Defection Law. The Tribunal is expected to see heated debates on November 14 when the advocates of the petitioners, reportedly armed with proofs are expected to grill the respondent MLAs. The Speaker is understood to have appealed to the Supreme Court to grant more time for completing the process as few MLAs were not forthcoming to attend the hearings.
Coming in this background, the Supreme Court’s reported decision to hear the contempt petition assumes significance. Sources in the Legislature Secretariat replied in the negative when asked whether any notice was received from the apex court to attend the hearing on November 17. “We have not received any communication so far,” was how an official responded.
Published – November 11, 2025 06:29 pm IST
