‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram, Phir Aaya Ram’: SC bins Danam’s plea, upholds HC verdict

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLA Danam Nagender's plea challenging an order of the Telangana High Court, which on September 18 disqualified him as MLA with effect from April 23, 2024.

Taking note of his defection to the ruling Congress, the apex court observed it was a case of 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram'.

The High Court had set aside an order of the Assembly Speaker in March this year dismissing petitions seeking his disqualification.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana said there was no ground to interfere with the High Court's order. "Your case is 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram, phir aaya Ram'?" Justice Bagchi remarked in a jovial manner. The expression ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’ is used to connote turncoat politicians who frequently switch sides.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi counsel denied that the party had condoned Nagender’s conduct and said it was a BRS member who had filed the disqualification petition. The bench subsequently declined to interfere with the High Court judgment.

The apex court passed the order while dealing with petitions filed by Bharatiya Janata Party floor leader in Assembly Alleti Maheshwar Reddy and BRS MLA P Kaushik Reddy. The petitioners sought to quash and set aside the Speaker's order and to declare that Nagender be disqualified as MLA as per the 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule from the date of filing of the nomination affidavit for the 2024 General Lok Sabha elections.

Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on March 11 dismissed petitions seeking the disqualification of Nagender as legislator. Six-time MLA Danam Nagender won the Khairatabad Assembly constituency in the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections as a BRS candidate. He subsequently joined the Congress and contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Secunderabad constituency on a Congress ticket.

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