Congress knocks on High Court door against merger

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Congress on Monday represented by its senior leaders Bhatti Vikramarka and Uttam Kumar Reddy approached the High Court against the merger of Congress Legislative Party with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi Legislative Party.

In the petition, the petitioners alleged that such a practice of merging a legislative party of national prominence with a regional party at the instance of the Speaker of the House is illegal, arbitrary, without jurisdiction ultra vires of Articles 102 and 191 of the Constitution of India.

The petitioners made Election Commission of India, Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly through The Tribunal constituted under X Schedule, Legislature Secretariat and all 12 legislators who defected as parties to the case.

In the petition, the petitioners also averred that they have given a representation earlier to disqualify the 12 defectors, but the Speaker did not heed their request and further requested the Speaker to disqualify all 12 defectors with immediate effect for indulging in anti-party activities.

The petitioners also mentioned the Writ Petition currently pending before the Court against the merger of Legislative Council of Congress with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi Legislative Council.

The petitioners also alleged flagrant violation of principles of natural justice as they were condemned unheard before taking a decision on the merger.

Senior Advocate Jandhyala Ravishankar is representing the petitioners in the case. The matter is expected to be heard by the court on Tuesday.