TS HC refuses to pass stay order in BJP MLAs suspension case

On 7 March, the Telangana Assembly had suspended BJP MLAs Rajasingh, Raghunandan Rao, and Eatala Rajender till the end of the current session for obstructing the budget speech. Telangana Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy had announced the suspension of the three MLAs.

The three leaders had started shouting when finance minister T. Harish Rao was presenting the budget for 2022-23. Before the beginning of the budget session, the three leaders had staged a protest outside the Assembly wearing black shawls.

The court has dismissed the plea of the three legislators to direct the Legislature Secretary to hand over the suspension orders and video recording of the House proceedings to them.

Justice Shameen Akhtar, who had on Thursday reserved interim orders, pronounced the same on Friday. The court had on Wednesday issued notice to Legislature Secretary Narasimha Charyulu on the petition by the BJP MLAs. However, petitioners' counsel D. Prakash informed the court that despite all efforts, the notice from the High Court Registry could not be served to the Legislature Secretary.

The MLAs argued that their suspension was against the rules of the Legislative Assembly and the Constitution. They alleged that they were suspended without a suspension order. They had pleaded to the court to lift their suspension and allow them to attend the session.

The MLAs sought direction declaring the action of the Legislature Secretary in suspending them as illegal and in violation of the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Assembly as well as Articles 14, 21, and 194 of the Constitution.

Advocate General B.S Prasad again submitted to the court not to intervene in the legislative affairs. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court issued another notice to the Legislature Secretary directing him to file a counter for a full-fledged hearing. The court adjourned the hearing by four weeks.