Revanth challenges suspension from Assembly

Telugu Desam floor leader in Telangana Assembly A Revanth Reddy knocked on the doors of the High Court at Hyderabad seeking to declare the action of the Speaker in suspending him from the the House for the entire Budget Session of 2017 as illegal.

Justice Challa Kodandaram, while hearing the petition on Thursday, issued notices to the Telangana Legislative Speaker and Secretary of the Legislative Assembly asking them to file their counter affidavits within 10 days.

Counsel appearing for the petitioner Jandhyala Ravi Shankar contended that there was no provision for suspension of a member from the House for obstructing the Governor’s speech either in the Constitution or in Business Rules of the Assembly.

The Speaker had cited this as a reason for suspending Revanth Reddy. He said it is an accepted principle that Governor’s speech cannot be considered as business of the House and therefore the Speaker lacked the power to take action for the violation during Governor’s address.

The judge commented that the counsel for petitioner haf made out a case for issuing notices to respondents. The Government Pleader informed the judge that the Advocate General of Telangana would assist the court as amicus curie in this case.