Telangana HC Reserves Verdict on Danam Nagender Disqualification Pleas

HYDERABAD — The Telangana High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on two petitions challenging the Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker’s ruling regarding disqualification proceedings against Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender, scheduling September 16 for the pronouncement of the judgment.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin reserved its orders after concluding detailed arguments presented by counsel representing all the involved parties.

The petitions were moved by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Alleti Maheshwar Reddy and Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy. Both legislators had previously approached the Assembly Speaker seeking the disqualification of Danam Nagender under the anti-defection law.

According to the petitioners, Nagender was elected to the Telangana Legislative Assembly on a BRS ticket from the Khairatabad constituency and subsequently joined the Congress party, thereby incurring disqualification under the Tenth Schedule.

Acting on directions issued by the Supreme Court in his capacity as the tribunal chairman under the Tenth Schedule, the Assembly Speaker had earlier ruled that Nagender had not legally changed political parties. Dissatisfied with the Speaker’s decision, both Maheshwar Reddy and Kaushik Reddy approached the High Court to challenge the ruling.

During the hearings before the division bench, counsel appearing for the petitioner MLAs argued that Nagender’s decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections as a candidate for the Congress party, after having won his assembly seat on a BRS ticket, amounted to voluntarily giving up his membership of his original party. They maintained that this action warranted disqualification under the anti-defection provisions, even in the absence of a formal resignation letter submitted to the party.

With all arguments concluded from both sides, the bench reserved its orders and slated the final verdict for delivery on September 16.