Congress leaders in Telangana are angry with the TRS-led state government for what they have called contempt of the High Court. The party has slammed the TRS government for not following the High Court’s order to reinstate two expelled Congress MLAs, and for claiming that only the House can take a decision on the issue, when they convene late.
Asking for the immediate reinstatement of Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Sampath Kumar, who were disqualified on grounds of misbehavior by the House, Congress said that if the government doesn’t revoke its decision and gracefully welcome the MLAs, they would file a case of contempt of Court against the TRS-led government.
On March 13, Komatireddy and Sampath were expelled and disqualified by the House for their alleged violent actions, which injured the eye of Council Chairman K Swamy Goud. While Komatireddy and Sampath were expelled, 11 other Congress MLAs were suspended for the entire session.
However, opposing the unprecedented expulsion of their colleagues, the Congress party had approached the High Court.
After hearing the case, the court gave a verdict in favour of the Congress, as the government failed to furnish video evidence to prove that the Chairman was indeed injured because of a microphone flung by the unruly Congress members.
The court also rapped the government for violating the principles of natural justice and fundamental rights by taking an arbitrary decision, without issuing any notice or opportunity to explain.
The Court observed, “It is crystal clear that the petitioners were neither given notice or opportunity to explain nor supplied any documents or other material including the motion moved for expulsion and the discussion undertaken, if any, on March 13, 2018.”
Notwithstanding the verdict of the court, the government has said that the decision to revoke the expulsion of the MLAs will be taken only when the House meets.
In an interview to New Indian Express, state Irrigation Minister expressed that the judiciary should not meddle with the affairs of the legislature, and also said that they would reinstate the expelled MLAs only after the House meets.
Harish Rao was quoted saying, “The House is supreme and the Assembly will take a call on the High Court judgment. Hence, the issue of whether expelled members can be reinstated will be decided by the House,”
Slamming these remarks, Congress spokesperson Dasoju Sravan told TNM, “It is unfortunate that despite being slapped by the Court on several occasions, the TRS hasn’t learnt what actually the Constitution is. They are continuing to be brutal, aggressive and not able to adapt to the principles of the Indian constitution.”
“The verdict has clearly said that discretionary power doesn’t mean absolute power. The Court has clearly said that the House did not allow natural justice by constituting a committee and probing the issue, but unilaterally took a decision without giving chance for an explanation,” he said.
The government should admit their mistake and gracefully welcome the expelled MLAs, and apologise to the Congress party for the inconvenience, he said.
It is learnt that the Congress will approach the Speaker in two days asking him to revoke the expulsion order as per the Court’s verdict, and reinstate Komatireddy and Sampath.
Congress MLA T Jeevan Reddy said that the remarks of Harish Rao reflect the arrogant attitude of the government.
“People are watching them. They should know that… They will teach them a befitting lesson soon,” he said.
“If the government doesn’t revoke the order, we will approach the Court again. It is a contempt of Court,” he added.