The Supreme Court correctly urges Speakers to address defections firmly.

Defections in Legislative Assemblies: A Public Debate

• Ruling parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party, have been encouraging defections to boost their legislative support.

• The Speaker, usually from the ruling party, is often involved in disqualification petitions from Opposition parties against legislators who defect.

• Mass defections to the ruling party post-elections have been observed, mocking the democratic exercise.

• The Supreme Court has reaffirmed the Speaker’s “propriety and impartiality” to decide on defections within a reasonable period.

• The Court has set a deadline for the Speaker to decide defection pleas from the Opposition.

• The issue persists due to Speakers’ election from ruling parties and their non-partisan nature.

• In 2020, the Court requested Parliament to amend the Constitution to strip Legislative Assembly Speakers of their exclusive power to decide on defections under the anti-defection law.

• The problem of defections going unaddressed by Speakers persists, and if the Court forces the Speaker in Telangana, decisive action might be needed.