Disqualified MLC R Bhupathi Reddy moves court

HYDERABAD: Disqualified MLC R Bhupathi Reddy filed a petition in the Telangana high court, challenging the recent decision of the legislative council chairman to disqualify him from his MLC post.

“Though I was nominated by TRS as its MLC candidate for the local bodies constituency from Nizamabad, I was elected unanimously,” he said and contended that he should not be treated as TRS candidate for the purpose of disqualification. He also challenged the relevant rules that attach party tags even to unanimously-elected candidates. The TRS filed a petition before the council chairman on December 17 and it was heard on January 2 and a judgment delivered on January 16, disqualifying him within one month. “I was not given an opportunity to put forward the case,” he said in his plea.

The chairman should first constitute a committee for a preliminary inquiry and then commence a full-fledged hearing, the aggrieved MLC said in his plea and urged the court to declare his disqualification as unconstitutional and also to restrain the authorities from notifying the vacancy of his seat.

Bhupati also a sought a direction to the pay and accounts officers not to stall his pay and perks till the court adjudicates the matter.