PolitySource: Indian Express
Supreme Court's Deadline for Anti-Defection Law Decisions In Telangana
Saturday, 7 February 2026
Key Points
The Supreme Court has mandated a deadline for the Telangana Assembly Speaker to resolve pending disqualification petitions under the Anti-Defection Law, highlighting the need for timely compliance to prevent contempt proceedings. The Anti-Defection Law, established in 1985, aims to maintain political stability and party discipline while preventing personal gain from political defections. Key reforms are recommended to enhance its effectiveness.
Detailed Coverage
- Anti-Defection Law introduced by the 52nd Amendment in 1985.
- Objective: prevent political defections for personal gain.
- Strengthened by the 91st Amendment in 2003.
- Maintains political stability and curbs horse-trading.
- Mandates voting according to the party whip.
- Allows party mergers without disqualification.
- Disqualification grounds include voluntarily giving up party membership.
- Voting against the party whip can lead to disqualification.
- Exceptions exist for party mergers with two-thirds approval.
- Presiding Officer decides disqualification cases, subject to judicial review.
- Criticism includes lack of time limits for decisions.
- Speakers may delay decisions, favoring the ruling party.
- Supreme Court calls for reforms to ensure timely adjudication.
- Independent tribunal suggested for neutrality in decisions.
- Stronger enforcement and intra-party democracy recommended.
- Conclusion emphasizes the need for reforms to uphold democratic accountability.
Polity