The Supreme Court took a stand against prolonged inaction by Speakers in deciding disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law. The court was hearing a case related to the disqualification of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs from Telangana who defected to the ruling Congress. What prompted the Supreme Court to question its own powerlessness?

1. The prolonged delay in decision-making by the Speaker.

2. The Speaker's quasi-judicial authority being absolute.

3. The Speaker remaining a mute spectator for years.

4. The lack of merger provision in the anti-defection law.