Telangana HC to Pronounce Verdict on Danam Nagender Disqualification on Sept 16
The Telangana High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on two writ petitions challenging the State Assembly Speaker's dismissal of disqualification petitions against Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender. The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin, will pronounce the judgment on September 16.
The petitions were filed by BJP legislature party leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy and BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy. They had sought the disqualification of Nagender under the anti-defection law after he, elected as a BRS candidate in the December 2023 Assembly elections, later joined the Congress and contested the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket.
The Speaker had dismissed the disqualification petitions, prompting the petitioners to move the High Court. During four days of hearings, the bench heard detailed arguments from all sides before reserving orders on Friday.
These two writ petitions are part of a larger batch of 10 petitions challenging the dismissal of disqualification pleas against nine MLAs, all of whom were accused of switching allegiance to the ruling Congress after being elected as BRS nominees. The remaining eight pleas were filed by BRS legislators against their former colleagues.
Specifically, K. Sanjay filed petitions against T. Prakash Goud and A. Gandhi; K.P. Vivekanand against Tellam Venkat Rao and Kadiam Srihari; G. Jagadish Reddy against Parige Srinivas Reddy and M. Sanjay Kumar; Chinta Prabhakar against Kale Yadaiah; and Palla Rajeshwar Reddy against Bandla Krishnamohan Reddy.
During the hearing on Friday, advocates Gandra Mohan Rao and K. Vivek Reddy represented the two petitioners, while A. Tulsi Raj Gokul appeared as standing counsel for the State Legislature on behalf of the Assembly Speaker. Arguments in the cases involving the other eight MLAs are scheduled to continue from September 16.
The High Court's verdict on the Nagender petitions is being closely watched as it could set a precedent for the remaining disqualification cases. Legal observers note that the Speaker's role under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution — which governs defection — is a matter of significant interpretation, and the court's findings may clarify the scope of judicial review in such matters.
The dispute underscores the ongoing political realignment in Telangana, where several BRS legislators have moved to the Congress since the Assembly elections. While the petitioners argue that such defections violate constitutional provisions, the affected MLAs have maintained that their actions were lawful. The court's decision on September 16 will be crucial in determining the political eligibility of these legislators.
