HC notices over YSRC MLAs’ ‘defection’ to TDP

The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday ordered that notices before admission be issued to Andhra Pradesh State and its Legislature Secretariat along with 21 MLAs of YSRCP after hearing a Public Interest Litigation petition over the latter’s defection to Telugu Desam Party. The respondents were asked to explain on the matter within three weeks.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice K. Vijaya Lakshmi passed the order after hearing the petition filed by YSRCP MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy. Though the petitioner sought orders over the “defection” of three YSRCP MPs, the division Bench suggested to counsel Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy to file a separate petition.

The petitioner pleaded with the High Court to issue a writ, an order or a direction — in the nature of Writ of Quo Warranto — declaring that the 21 legislators are not eligible to act as MLAs having defected to TDP. As the lawyer repeatedly requested to issue an interim order, the division bench made it clear that it was not correct to pass orders without giving an opportunity to the other side for an explanation.