Supreme Court Rebukes Telangana CM Over Statement In House That There Won't Be Bye-Polls If BRS MLAs Switch Sides

The Supreme Court today took strong exception to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's alleged statement on the Floor of the House that no bye-elections will take place even if BRS MLAs switch sides to the Congress party.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih was dealing with pleas seeking the Telangana Assembly Speaker's timely decision on disqualification petitions filed in relation to the defection of certain MLAs from the BRS party to the ruling Congress party in Telangana.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Aryama Sundaram (for petitioners) apprised the bench of Telangana CM's statements. Highlighting that it was made in the presence of the Speaker, the senior counsel read the statement thus:

"Hon'ble Speaker Sir, through you, I want to assure the members that they need no worry about bye-elections. No bye-elections will happen. Even if BRS desires to have one for their seats, there will be none. Even if their members switch sides, there will not be a bye-election."

Displeased by the same, Justice Gavai remarked, "If this is said on the Floor of the House, Your Hon'ble CM is making mockery of the 10th schedule". 

When Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi (for Telangana Assembly Speaker/Secretary) expressed inability to explain the statement, as he was not appearing for the CM, Justice Gavai noted that the senior counsel had earlier appeared for the CM in another matter (where also the CM was rebuked over one of his statements).

For context, in August, 2024, while hearing the plea for transfer of trial in the 2015 cash-for-votes case(s) against Revanth Reddy, a bench led by Justice Gavai had expressed strong disapproval of the remarks made by him over the Court's grant of bail to BRS leader K Kavitha.

During today's hearing, Justice Gavai further commented that something being said in "Ramleela Maidan" is different from something said on the Floor of the House. "When politicians say something in the Assembly, it has some sanctity...in fact the judgment(s) say that when we interpret laws, the statement of the Hon'ble Minister who has given speech on the floor of the House can be used for interpreting that statute".

Ultimately, the bench asked Rohatgi to warn the CM that there shall be no "repeat action", as the Court may be slow in issuing contempt notices, but it is "Not Powerless".

Case Title: PADI KAUSHIK REDDY Versus THE STATE OF TELANGANA AND ORS., SLP(C) No. 2353-2354/2025 (and connected cases)