Supreme Court Debates Legislative Assembly Speaker's Timelines

The Supreme Court is reviewing if a high court can instruct a legislative assembly speaker to act within a specific timeframe to resolve pleas for lawmaker disqualification amidst delays in Telangana's assembly speaker's decisions. The case involves disqualification petitions against legislators defecting from the BRS to Congress.

The Supreme Court of India is currently assessing whether it is within a high court's authority to compel a legislative assembly speaker to take action within a specified period concerning disqualification pleas. This follows significant delays by the Telangana Assembly Speaker in resolving petitions linked to BRS legislators defecting to Congress.

Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih are deliberating on petitions challenging a November 2024 Telangana High Court ruling on disqualifying three BRS MLAs who changed allegiance to the state's ruling Congress party. The case also involves seven other legislators who defected.

The court is scrutinizing the validity of a division bench's November verdict requiring the speaker to address disqualification pleas against these lawmakers within a 'reasonable time.' The outcome may set a precedent for balancing constitutional authority and judicial oversight in parliamentary procedures.

(With inputs from agencies.)