Defection row: Telangana Speaker moves SC, seeks 8 weeks to decide on disqualification of 10 BRS MLAs

New Delhi: Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker’s office has approached the Supreme Court seeking an additional eight weeks to conclude hearings on disqualification petitions filed against 10 MLAs accused of defecting from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to Congress.

The original three-month deadline set by the Supreme Court ended on Friday. According to sources, the Speaker’s office had filed the extension plea on October 25, citing official duties and international commitments as reasons for the delay.

Ten BRS MLAs under scrutiny

The case pertains to 10 BRS MLAs who defected to the Congress after the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections without resigning from their parent party.

Those facing disqualification petitions include Danam Nagender (Khairatabad), Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy (Gadwal), Kadiyam Srihari (Ghanpur), Tellam Venkat Rao (Bhadradri Kothagudem), Pocharam Srinivas Reddy (Banswada), Kale Yadiah (Chevella), T. Prakash Goud (Rajendranagar), M. Sanjay Kumar (Jagityal), Gudem Mahipal Reddy (Patancheru), and Arekapudi Gandhi (Serilingampally).

The Telangana High Court had earlier issued notices to all ten MLAs, directing them to respond to the petitions filed by the BRS seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law.

Four MLAs examined, orders reserved

In its latest plea, the Speaker’s office informed the Supreme Court that hearings had already been completed for four MLAs, and orders on those cases were reserved for pronouncement.

However, due to the Speaker’s constitutional responsibilities, legislative proceedings, and participation in international conferences, the remaining six MLAs could not be summoned or examined, the plea said.

The Speaker’s office requested the court to grant eight additional weeks to finish the remaining inquiries and submit a comprehensive report on all ten MLAs accused of party defection.

Petition yet to be admitted

Though the plea was filed before the expiry of the earlier deadline, it has not yet been listed or admitted by the Supreme Court. When the Chief Justice of India (CJI)-led bench assembled on Friday, the case did not appear in the day’s cause list, sources said.

The Speaker’s legal counsel is expected to mention the matter before the CJI bench on Monday and seek an urgent hearing.

BRS files caveat against time extension

In a counter move, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) filed a caveat petition in the Supreme Court, urging the bench not to grant any further time to the Speaker’s office.

The BRS alleged that the Speaker’s office had ignored the Supreme Court’s earlier directive and wasted the three months “with repeated excuses.”

“The Speaker’s office has failed to act despite clear court orders,” the BRS said in its plea, urging the court to direct the Speaker to decide the disqualification petitions without delay.

Party leaders also highlighted that the remaining six MLAs include Danam Nagender and Kadiyam Srihari, accusing the Speaker’s office of deliberate inaction and favoritism.

Legal battle ahead

The Supreme Court had in July directed the Telangana Assembly Speaker to complete the inquiry within three months, citing the need to uphold the spirit of the anti-defection law.

With the Speaker now seeking more time and the BRS opposing it, the politically sensitive defection case is poised for another high-stakes legal showdown in the apex court next week.