The stay was imposed in a petition filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana, challenging the nominations made by the state government.
Published Aug 13, 2025 | 6:49 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 13, 2025 | 6:49 PM
M Kodandaram and Amer Ali Khan. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The apex court ordered the stay while hearing arguments that the appointments had violated previous interim orders. The court said that it was improper for Kodandaram and Khan to be sworn in after the Telangana High Court’s orders. The Supreme Court clarified that any appointments made under the Governor’s quota would be subject to the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings.
In a major setback to the A Revanth Reddy-led Congress government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday, 13 August, imposed a stay on the appointment of Prof M Kodandaram and journalist Amer Ali Khan as Members of the Telangana Legislative Council (MLCs) under the Governor’s quota.
The stay was imposed in a petition filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana, challenging the nominations made by the state government.
The apex court ordered the stay while hearing arguments that the appointments had violated previous interim orders. The court said that it was improper for Kodandaram and Khan to be sworn in after the Telangana High Court’s orders. The Supreme Court clarified that any appointments made under the Governor’s quota would be subject to the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings.
The controversy originated from the nominations made by the Congress government in January 2024, shortly after assuming power in Telangana. The state Cabinet recommended Kodandaram, president of the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS), and Khan, news editor of The Siasat Daily, for MLC positions under the Governor’s quota.
These nominations replaced earlier recommendations by the BRS government in August 2023 for Dasoju Sravan and Kurra Satyanarayana, which were rejected by then-Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, citing their political affiliations.
In March 2024, the Telangana High Court quashed both the Governor’s rejection of the BRS nominees and the subsequent nominations of Kodandaram and Khan, ordering a status quo. The Congress government reaffirmed its choice of Kodandaram and Khan on 5 August 2024, prompting further legal challenges from the BRS leaders. The Supreme Court’s stay on 13 August has now halted the appointments.
Kodandaram, a key figure in the Telangana statehood movement, and Khan were seen as significant additions to the Legislative Council due to their contributions to public life. However, the Supreme Court’s intervention has put their roles on hold, pending a final verdict.
Welcoming the stay order, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said the Supreme Court has dealt a blow to the BJP and Congress.
“In the past, when the BJP misused the Governor’s system to obstruct the proposals of two MLCs sent by the BRS, the Congress, which came to power later, recommended two other names while the process was still pending, thereby mocking democracy,” he said on X.
“The true nature of Congress and BJP has once again been exposed, as they obstructed the candidatures of Dasoju Shravan and Satyanarayana, who belong to marginalized and weaker sections, previously nominated by the BRS.
We, on behalf of the BRS, bow our heads and salute the honorable judiciary, which has declared that the undemocratic practices of these two Delhi-based parties, showing no respect for the Constitution, will not be tolerated,” he added.
MLC K Kavitha, daughter of BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao, hailed the decision of the Supreme Court. “If the BJP does not respect the great Indian Constitution, defeat is inevitable, and it should realise this now,” she said on X.
“In the past, the BJP, with malicious intent, obstructed the appointments of MLCs recommended by KCR’s government under the Governor’s quota, using the Governor as a shield.
While their appointments were still pending, the Congress government appointed two more individuals as MLCs. The Supreme Court verdict today, cancelling their Legislative Council memberships, is a slap in the face for the BJP.
From now on, the BJP should respect the Constitution and approve the bills pending with the Governor and the President that provide 42 percent reservations for BCs. The state government should immediately file a petition in the Supreme Court to secure a 42 percent quota for the BCs,” she said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
