Supreme Court Delivers Final Warning to Telangana Speaker Over BRS MLAs' Disqualification
The Supreme Court of India has issued a stern ultimatum to the Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker, granting a final opportunity to decide on pending disqualification petitions against MLAs who defected from the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) to the Congress party. In a decisive move, a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and A G Masih set a strict three-week deadline for the Speaker to resolve the matter, explicitly warning that failure to comply will trigger contempt proceedings.
Chronology of Judicial Interventions and Delays
The apex court has been actively monitoring this case since December 2024, repeatedly urging the Speaker to adjudicate on the ten disqualification petitions. On July 31, 2025, the court initially allowed a three-month window for a decision, but the Speaker's inaction led to the filing of contempt petitions. By December 2025, the Speaker had rejected seven of the ten petitions, leaving three unresolved.
During the last hearing on January 16, 2026, the state requested additional time, which the court granted for two weeks. In the recent session on February 6, 2026, Senior Advocate A M Singhvi, representing the state, informed the court that one more petition had been decided. He cited municipal elections as a reason to seek a further three-week extension for the remaining petitions. However, the petitioners' counsel strongly opposed this request, arguing that the municipal elections were unrelated and accusing the state of misrepresenting facts.
Legal Journey from High Court to Supreme Court
The legal battle originated when the BRS approached the Telangana High Court, seeking directives for the Speaker to expedite the disqualification proceedings against the ten MLAs. A single-judge bench initially ordered the Speaker to establish a hearing schedule within four weeks. However, upon appeal by the Speaker, a division bench overturned this order on November 22, 2024, instead instructing the Speaker to decide the petitions within a reasonable timeframe.
Dissatisfied with this outcome, the BRS escalated the matter to the Supreme Court. On July 31, 2025, the Supreme Court overturned the division bench's decision, mandating the Speaker to resolve the petitions swiftly and within three months. The court's latest order reinforces this directive with heightened urgency, emphasizing the need for immediate action to uphold constitutional integrity.
Implications of the Court's Contempt Warning
The Supreme Court's warning of contempt proceedings underscores the gravity of the situation, highlighting the Speaker's prolonged delay as a potential affront to judicial authority. This development places significant pressure on the Telangana Speaker to act promptly, as any further postponement could result in severe legal consequences. The case exemplifies the judiciary's role in enforcing accountability within legislative processes, particularly in matters of political defection and disqualification.
As the three-week deadline approaches, all eyes are on the Telangana Speaker's office to deliver a final verdict on the remaining petitions, which could have profound implications for the state's political landscape and the enforcement of anti-defection laws in India.
