Why is it in the news?
The Supreme Court gave the final three-week deadline to Telangana Assembly Speaker to decide pending disqualification petitions.
The court warned non-compliance would invite contempt proceedings.
Category: Polity
Important Points:
● Introduced by 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985 (Tenth Schedule)
● Strengthened by 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003
● Applies to Parliament and State Legislatures
● Grounds: Voluntarily giving up membership; violating party whip
● Independent member joining party leads to disqualification
● Nominated member joining party after 6 months leads to disqualification
● Merger allowed if two-thirds members agree
● Speaker/Chairman decides cases; subject to judicial review
● SC in Keisham Meghachandra (2020): decision within 3 months
● Kihoto Hollohan (1992): Speaker’s decision subject to judicial review