Supreme Court Urges Swift Action on Telangana MLA Disqualification

The Supreme Court has mandated that the Telangana assembly speaker resolve disqualification petitions against 10 BRS MLAs who defected to Congress within three months. The court accentuated the destabilizing potential of political defections, reiterating the importance of a robust mechanism to prevent such disruptions to democracy.

In its ruling, the court recognized the Speaker's role as a tribunal concerning the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, noting that this position does not confer immunity from judicial review. It stressed that undue delays in addressing such petitions undermine democratic processes and responsibilities assigned to the Speaker.

The bench discarded a previous Telangana High Court decision and called upon Parliament to reconsider the efficacy of allowing the Speaker to determine disqualification issues. It underscored the need for expedited proceedings to uphold democratic foundations and cautioned against letting procedural delays thwart prompt resolutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)