Justice B. Shivshankar Rao of the Hyderabad High Court on Friday heard the arguments of the counsel appearing for two Congress leaders, who have challenged their expulsion from the Telangana Legislative Assembly.
Congress leaders Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and S.A. Sampath Kumar had filed a writ petition questioning the jurisdiction of the Speaker, and the manner in which the order was passed.
Ravi Shankar Jandhyala, the counsel for the petitioners, said the petitioners were expelled citing business rules. These rules can be invoked only when the proceedings of the House are disrupted. He said the Supreme Court had held that the address of the Governor was not part of the Assembly proceedings. He wondered how the business rules were invoked.
Mr. Jandhyala emphasised that there was no provision for ‘expulsion’ in the Constitution. He cited a judgment of the Supreme Court wherein Justice Chalameswar held that even inside the House, the principles of natural justice, Article 14 and 19 of the Constitution of India were applicable. In this case, all were violated. No chance was given to the leaders to defend themselves. D. Prakash Reddy, Advocate General of Telangana, requested the court to grant him some time to respond to various issues that were raised. The Judge said the case would be heard on Monday.
