New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rebuked Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over his statement made in the state assembly, saying he was making mockery of the anti-defection law.
The Chief Minister had stated that there would be no by-elections even if the MLAs of the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) defect to the ruling Congress.
"If this is said on the floor of the house, your Hon’ble CM is making a mockery of the 10th Schedule," the bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih said, slamming the Chief Minister while hearing petitions filed by BRS leaders.
BRS MLA P. Kaushik Reddy had filed the petition seeking the disqualification of MLAs T. Venkata Rao, Danam Nagender, and Kadiyam Srihari for defecting to the Congress after winning the election on BRS tickets.
In November 2024, the Telangana High Court directed the Speaker to decide on these disqualification petitions within a "reasonable time".
The Supreme Court is now hearing petitions from BRS MLAs Kaushik Reddy and K. Pandu Vivekananda, as well as BJP MLA A. Maheshwar Reddy, seeking a time-bound decision from the Speaker. Additionally, BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao has petitioned for the disqualification of seven other BRS MLAs who switched loyalties to Congress.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners, C. Aryaman Sundaram, highlighted Reddy's statement, which was made on March 26. However, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the respondents, argued that Assembly proceedings were not in question in the present case.
Justice Gavai suggested that the senior lawyer warn the Chief Minister against making such controversial statements in the legislature.
“We know we are slow in issuing contempt notices, but we are also not powerless," he said.
"When politicians say something in the Assembly, it has got sanctity. In fact, the judgements say that when we interpret laws, the speech given on the floor of the House can be used for interpreting," it said.
Revanth Reddy had reportedly stated that Kavitha could secure bail within five months as the vote bank of the BRS was transferred to the BJP.
"Do we pass our orders in consultation with political parties? We are not bothered about which party politicians belong to… We are not bothered by politicians’ criticism of our orders. We do our duty as per the Constitution and our oath,” Justice Gavai had said while addressing Rohatgi and Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Revanth Reddy.
After the Supreme Court faulted the Chief Minister for his remarks, he unconditionally expressed his regret.
Speaking in the Assembly last month, the Chief Minister told BRS MLAs who switched loyalties to the Congress that they need not worry, as by-elections will not be held.
The Chief Minister stated that during the BRS rule, turncoats took oath as ministers, and no by-elections were held in the previous government. "How will by-elections be held now?" he asked.
The Chief Minister’s statement drew a strong reaction from the BRS leader Rama Rao, who had said that they would bring this to the court’s notice.
(inputs from IANS)