The Supreme Court of India has granted a final opportunity to the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, Gaddam Prasad Kumar, to decide on the pending disqualification pleas against MLAs accused of defecting from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to the ruling Congress party.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Augustine George Masih heard the matter concerning disqualification petitions against ten BRS legislators. These petitions arose after the members were alleged to have shifted allegiance to the Congress, prompting BRS leaders including K.T. Rama Rao, Padi Kaushik Reddy, and K.P. Vivekanand Goud to petition the court for action under the Anti‑Defection Law.
The Supreme Court directed the Speaker to file a status report within two weeks detailing the steps taken in adjudicating the disqualification pleas. The court made clear that this was a final deadline, warning that there would be legal consequences if the Speaker failed to comply.
During the hearing, the Speaker’s legal team argued that he had already decided orders in seven of the disqualification petitions, and that one had been reserved for decision, while the remaining cases were still pending. They also cited the Speaker’s recent eye surgery as a reason for delay and requested additional time to complete the proceedings.
Opposing further extension, senior counsel Dama Seshadri Naidu representing the BRS urged the court not to grant more time, arguing that the Speaker had already been given months to decide and that repeated delays undermined the authority of the judiciary and the anti‑defection mechanism.
The dispute has a long history: in July 2025, the Supreme Court had ordered that the Speaker decide on the disqualification pleas within three months, emphasising that timely adjudication is essential for the effectiveness of the Anti‑Defection Law. That deadline has since lapsed with several cases still unresolved, leading to the present judicial admonition.
The matter has now been adjourned for two weeks, with the court expecting a status update on the pending cases. If adequate progress is not shown, the Supreme Court has indicated it may take further action in accordance with the law.
