Supreme Court Directs Jalgam Venkat Rao, Former MLA, Kothagudem To Approach Telangana High Court For Early Disposal Of His Election Petition

The Supreme Court on Monday (November 8, 2021) directed Jalgam Venkat Rao, former MLA, Kothagudem to approach the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court for issuance of suitable administrative direction for early disposal of his election petition challenging the election of Vanama Venkateswara Rao, MLA of 117-Kothagudem Assembly Constituency.

The bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna in their order noted that,

"In our view, the appropriate course of action would be to permit the petitioner to move the Chief Justice of the High Court of Telangana on the administrative side so that appropriate directions can be issued to ensure that the Election Petition is heard and disposed of finally at an early date having regard to the intent and purpose of Section 86 of the Representation of the People Act 1951."

While issuing the above direction, the bench placed reliance on the Top Court's judgment in Pukhrem Saratchandra Singh v Mairembam Prithviraj (2015) 16 SCC 149.

Advocate Byrapaneni Suyodhan on Rao's behalf had submitted that the issues had not been framed and the delay would defeat the provisions of Section 86 of the Representation of the People Act 1951.

Rao had approached the Top Court for issuance of direction to the High Court of Telangana for expeditious disposal of his election petition wherein he had challenged the election of Vanama Venkateswara Rao, MLA of 117-Kothagudem Assembly Constituency.

It was averred in the petition that though a period of nearly three years had elapsed out of the term of the Legislative Assembly, the petition had not been taken up. It was also alleged that even on November 8, 2021 the petition was shown on board at Serial No 151 before the Single Judge, it was unlikely to be called for hearing.

Case Title: Jalgam Venkat Rao v High Court For The State Of Telangana & Ors.| Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s).944/2021

Click Here To Read The Order