Court Calls Speaker Delay “Gross Contempt”
The Supreme Court of India today delivered a severe warning to the Telangana Assembly Speaker, Gaddam Prasad Kumar, over the prolonged delay in deciding the disqualification petitions filed against ten Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) who defected to the ruling Congress party.
A bench, led by the Chief Justice of India, expressed extreme displeasure, labeling the Speaker’s inaction as the “grossest kind of contempt” of a prior judicial order. The top court had previously set a clear, three-month deadline, which expired in October, for the Speaker to conclude the proceedings under the Anti-Defection Law, enshrined in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice sternly remarked that the Speaker must now choose between concluding the long-pending process by next week or facing formal contempt proceedings from the highest court of the land.The court’s tone was notably sharp, with the Chief Justice making an unambiguous observation about the potential consequence of continued defiance.
The issue stems from the mass defection of BRS legislators to the Congress party earlier this year following the change in government.BRS leaders, including Padi Kaushik Reddy and others, filed petitions seeking the immediate disqualification of these defectors under constitutional provisions designed to prevent the ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’ political culture.
The Supreme Court’s July 31st ruling had unequivocally stated that the Speaker, while acting as an adjudicating authority in defection cases, functions as a tribunal and therefore does not enjoy constitutional immunity from judicial oversight in matters of procedural delay. The court had noted that the anti-defection law was intended to curb political instability and that such delays defeat its very purpose.
Counsels representing the Speaker’s office acknowledged the court’s grave concern and assured the bench that the judicial message was received “loud and clear.” They requested a short extension, submitting that hearings in four cases had been completed and evidence recorded in three others. The court, while issuing a formal contempt notice, posted the matter for further hearing in four weeks.
This judicial intervention holds massive political implications for Telangana. A ruling against the defecting MLAs would not only uphold the integrity of the anti-defection law but could also significantly alter the strength and political dynamics within the state Legislative Assembly, providing a crucial advantage to the BRS as the principal opposition party. The pressure is now immense on the Speaker to adhere to the firm timeline set by the Supreme Court.
