Supreme Court Rules Anti-Defection Petitions Must Be Decided Expeditiously Regardless Of Assembly Tenure

The <b>Supreme Court</b> has issued a significant directive stating that disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law must be handled expeditiously. A bench led by the Chief Justice emphasized that High Courts should not decline to issue directions to Assembly Speakers simply because the legislative assembly has a short remaining tenure. The court clarified that the constitutional mandate to decide such cases cannot be bypassed due to time constraints or the impending end of a house's term. This ruling aims to prevent the misuse of procedural delays in disqualification cases. By ensuring <b>timely adjudication</b>, the judiciary seeks to uphold the integrity of the anti-defection law, ensuring that legislators are held accountable for party-switching activities before their term concludes.