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Madras High Court upholds AIADMK MLAs’ resignation acceptance

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 10:38 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Madras High Court upheld Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar’s acceptance of six AIADMK MLAs’ resignations.
The six legislators—Maragatham Kumaravel, Sathyabama, Isakki Subbaiah, Jayakumar, M.R. Vijayabhaskar and C. Vijayabhaskar—defected to ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Court ruled resignation and disqualification are separate constitutional processes and ordered the Speaker to finish pending disqualification within two months.
Two defectors, Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabama, won by-elections as TVK candidates on October 6.

History

Historical Context

In 1995 Parliament added the Tenth Schedule (52nd Amendment) to curb defections, and the Supreme Court’s 1992 Hollohan ruling required a Speaker’s disqualification order within 90 days and allowed judicial review. The Madras High Court’s 2024 order compelling Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar to rule on six AIADMK legislators follows that precedent, underscoring the enduring judicial check on party-switching.

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Story summary

Madras High Court upheld Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar’s acceptance of six AIADMK MLAs’ resignations.
The six legislators—Maragatham Kumaravel, Sathyabama, Isakki Subbaiah, Jayakumar, M.R. Vijayabhaskar and C. Vijayabhaskar—defected to ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Court ruled resignation and disqualification are separate constitutional processes and ordered the Speaker to finish pending disqualification within two months.
Two defectors, Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabama, won by-elections as TVK candidates on October 6.

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