Anti-Defection Law: SC Urges Parliament to Revisit Speaker’s Role in Deciding Disqualification Cases

Criticising repeated delays in deciding disqualification pleas, the Supreme Court on July 31 urged Parliament to revisit the Tenth Schedule provisions that give Speakers the power to rule on defections.

A bench led by CJI BR Gavai directed the Telangana Assembly Speaker to decide within three months on pleas seeking the disqualification of ten BRS MLAs who switched to Congress.

The Court warned that persistent delays frustrate the Schedule’s objective and undermine democracy.

Recalling its 2020 ruling, the Court urged that an independent tribunal be established to handle defection matters instead of partisan Speakers to ensure timely and impartial decisions under the anti-defection law.

[Padi Kaushik Reddy v The State Of Telangana And Ors]