Supreme Court Criticizes Telangana CM for Assembly Remarks
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Synopsis
The Supreme Court has reprimanded Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy for his comments in the Assembly regarding the anti-defection law. The Court emphasized the importance of statements made within legislative contexts and addressed ongoing disqualification petitions related to defection.
Key Takeaways
- Supreme Court criticized CM Reddy for Assembly comments.
- Concerns raised over anti-defection law remarks.
- Disqualification petitions for defected BRS MLAs ongoing.
- Importance of statements made in legislative assemblies highlighted.
- Chief Minister expressed regret after Court rebuke.
New Delhi, April 2 (NationPress) The Supreme Court strongly criticized Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for his remarks made in the state Assembly, asserting that he was ridiculing the anti-defection law.
The Chief Minister claimed that there would be no by-elections, even if MLAs from the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) defected to the ruling Congress.
"If this is stated 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 commented while addressing petitions filed by BRS leaders, who sought the disqualification of BRS MLAs that defected to Congress last year.
BRS MLA P. Kaushik Reddy initiated the petition calling for the disqualification of MLAs T. Venkata Rao, Danam Nagender, and Kadiyam Srihari for their defection to Congress after winning elections on BRS tickets.
Last November, the Telangana High Court instructed the Speaker of the Telangana Assembly to address the disqualification petitions within a ‘reasonable time’.
Subsequently, Kaushik Reddy along with another BRS MLA K. Pandu Vivekananda and BJP MLA A. Maheshwar Reddy filed separate petitions in the Supreme Court, urging the Speaker to resolve the disqualification petitions promptly.
The Supreme Court is also reviewing a petition by BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao, seeking the disqualification of seven additional BRS MLAs who shifted their allegiance to Congress.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the petitioners’ counsel C. Aryaman Sundaram highlighted the Chief Minister's statement made in the Assembly on March 26.
Representing the respondents, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi contended that the Assembly proceedings were not being contested in the current matter.
Justice Gavai advised the senior attorney to caution the Chief Minister against making such contentious statements in the legislature.
“We acknowledge our slow pace in issuing contempt notices, but we are not powerless,” he remarked.
The bench noted that statements made in legislative assemblies hold significance.
"When politicians make assertions in the Assembly, they possess weight. Indeed, judgements indicate that speeches made on the floor of the House can be interpreted in legal contexts," it stated.
Justice Gavai urged Rohatgi to advise the Chief Minister against repeating such errors.
The judge seemed to refer to the CM’s previous comments made in August regarding the bail granted to BRS MLC K. Kavitha in the Delhi liquor policy case. Revanth Reddy allegedly claimed that Kavitha would secure bail within five months as the BRS vote bank transitioned to the BJP.
"Do we issue our orders in consultation with political parties? We remain indifferent to which party politicians are affiliated with... We disregard politicians’ criticisms of our rulings. We fulfill our responsibilities according to the Constitution and our oath," Justice Gavai stated while addressing Rohatgi and Siddharth Luthra, representing Revanth Reddy.
After the Supreme Court admonished the Chief Minister for his comments, he expressed his regret unconditionally.
In the Assembly last month, the Chief Minister reassured BRS MLAs who defected to Congress that they need not be concerned about by-elections.
He stated that under BRS governance, turncoats assumed ministerial positions and no by-elections were conducted in the previous administration. "How will by-elections be held now?" he questioned.
The Chief Minister’s remarks provoked a strong response from BRS leader Rama Rao, who indicated that they would bring this to the attention of the court.
