New Delhi, Aug. 1 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that constitutional courts can fix timelines for Speakers to decide disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law, warning that protracted delays by high constitutional functionaries were eroding the democratic fabric and defeating the very purpose of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution that sought to curb the evil of political defections. While courts cannot injunct Speakers from deciding such petitions, they can certainly issue directions to facilitate decisions, the top court ruled. P9...