SC closes hearing in BRS defection case

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Thursday closed its hearing on petitions lodged by the BRS concerning the disqualification of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who had switched allegiance from the party to the governing Congress.

This decision followed confirmation that the Assembly Speaker had rendered a judgment on the complaints.

A judicial panel, presided over by Justice Sanjay Karol, was reviewing the case when senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Speaker, informed the apex court that the Speaker had finalised the inquiry into the disqualification petitions and issued a definitive order. He further stated that the proceedings before the Speaker had reached completion and the petitions were consequently resolved.

Acknowledging this submission, the bench indicated that further deliberation was unnecessary once the Speaker had made a determination, and consequently declared the court's proceedings closed.

However, counsel for the BRS brought to the bench's attention that copies of the Speaker's order had not yet been provided to the petitioners. Taking this objection into account, the court mandated the Speaker's office to furnish copies of the verdict to the petitioners within a two-day timeframe.

The bench further stipulated that all relevant documents, records of the proceedings, and any supplementary information requested by the petitioners should be supplied within four days.

The Supreme Court had been seized of petitions from the BRS, which sought the disqualification of MLAs who had purportedly joined the ruling party.

These petitions had previously raised concerns regarding the delay in the Speaker's decision on the complaints. Telangana Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on Wednesday issued his verdict on two outstanding petitions, dismissing all claims against 10 MLAs who had switched parties, citing insufficient evidence.