New Delhi [India]: The Supreme Court on Wednesday strongly criticized Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for his alleged statement in the State Assembly, where he claimed that no by-elections would take place even if more Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs switched to the ruling Congress party.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih stated that such remarks, if made in the State Assembly, undermine the Anti-Defection Law outlined in the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.
“If this is said on the Floor of the House, Your Hon’ble CM is making a mockery of the 10th Schedule,” the Court remarked.
The judges emphasized that statements made in the Assembly hold greater significance than those made at political rallies or other public events.
“When politicians say something in the Assembly, it has some sanctity. In fact, judgments say that when we interpret laws, the statement of the Hon’ble Minister who has given a speech on the Floor of the House can be used for interpreting that statute,” the bench added.
The Court was hearing a petition filed by BRS party officials, urging the Telangana Assembly to promptly decide on the disqualification of seven BRS MLAs who defected to the ruling Congress.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Aryama Sundaram, representing the petitioners, informed the bench about the Telangana CM’s recent remarks in the Assembly.
Additionally, the Court directed Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who represented the Telangana Assembly and had previously appeared for the CM in another case, to caution Revanth Reddy against making such statements again.
The bench further clarified that while the Court may not issue contempt notices hastily, it is “not powerless.”
In previous hearings, the Supreme Court had urged the Telangana Assembly to resolve the disqualification petition within a reasonable timeframe.