Overview
- A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai issued a contempt notice to Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, warning he must decide the pending disqualification pleas by next week or face contempt, with notices returnable in two weeks.
- The court’s July 31 order had set a three‑month limit to rule on 10 petitions against BRS MLAs who joined the Congress, a deadline that expired on October 31.
- Reiterating its July ruling, the court held the Speaker functions as a tribunal under the Tenth Schedule without constitutional immunity and urged Parliament to review the current disqualification mechanism.
- Counsel for the Speaker assured the bench that decisions would be delivered within about two weeks after the court rebuked the prolonged delay.
- Following the warning, the Speaker accelerated proceedings and summoned two MLAs for oral arguments this week, and any upheld disqualifications would trigger bypolls in the 10 constituencies.