Overview

• A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai held that Speakers acting as tribunals under the Tenth Schedule do not enjoy constitutional immunity and remain subject to judicial oversight.
• The Supreme Court stayed the Telangana High Court division bench’s November 2024 order that had overturned an earlier single-judge directive for a time-bound hearing.
• It warned that MLAs who attempt to delay disqualification proceedings could face adverse inferences drawn by the Speaker.
• Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has issued notices to the ten defecting MLAs and plans to seek legal advice upon receiving the full judgment.
• The judgment called on Parliament to review the anti-defection framework to prevent routine delays by assembly presiding officers.