New Delhi, April 3 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday took a strong stand against prolonged inaction by Speakers in deciding disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law, asserting that it cannot remain "a mute spectator" to a "naked dance of democracy" with its "hands tied at the back."

A bench of justices Bhushan R Gavai and AG Masih emphasised that the judiciary has not just the power but also a duty to ensure that the Tenth Schedule, which curbs political defections, is not reduced to a dead letter.

The court made these remarks while hearing a case related to the disqualification of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs from Telangana who defected to the ruling Congress. The petitions, pending before the Speaker for an extende...