HC notice to Speaker on contempt plea by 2 Congress MLAs

The Hyderabad High Court today issued notice to the Telangana Assembly Speaker on a contempt plea filed by two Congress MLAs over non-restoration of their membership despite the court's order.

Justice B Siva Sankara Rao, while dealing with a contempt petition filed by expelled Congress lawmakers Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and S A Sampath Kumar against the Telangana Legislative Assembly Secretary and Law Secretary, also issued notices to the two officials.

On March 13, the two MLAs were expelled from the assembly, a day after "unruly" incidents during the Governor's address to the joint sitting of legislature.

Subsequently, the two had jointly filed a petition in the High Court, challenging their expulsion from the Assembly.

On April 17, the High Court quashed the notification issued by the Legislature Secretary expelling the two MLAs.

Again in June this year the two MLAs had filed a contempt petition against Legislature Secretary and Law Secretary for not restoring their membership.

Justice Sankara Rao issued notice under Form 1 of the Contempt of Courts Act to the Legislature Secretary and Law Secretary, directing them to respond as to why they should not be punished for contempt of court.

The judge also impleaded the Telangana Director General of Police and Superintendents of Police of Nalgonda and Jogulamba Gadwal districts, asking them why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for their 'failure' to provide police security to them (Reddy and Kumar).

The judge also called for information from the Pay and Accounts Department why the salary bills were not prepared and passed in respect of the two MLAs.

The two Secretaries have failed to take any step towards implementation of the judgement of the court, despite the fact that both of them are aware of the judgement and also the consequences of violating the judgement, Justice Rao observed.

The judge also issued a show cause notice to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, directing him to explain as to why action cannot be initiated against him for contempt of court.

The Judge directed the case to be listed on August 28.