Indefinite suspension: SC asks AAP MP Raghav Chadha to tender unconditional apology to RS chairperson

Raghav Chadha. File Pic

The Supreme Court on Friday asked suspended AAP lawmaker Raghav Chadha to tender an unconditional apology to Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar on the select committee issue, and hoped that he would take a "sympathetic" view of the matter, reported news agency PTI.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to apprise it of the developments in the matter after the Diwali vacation, reported PTI.

The CJI said the lawmaker will have to meet the Rajya Sabha chairperson to tender an unconditional apology on the issue. The vice president, in turn, may take a sympathetic view of the entire matter and take further steps in this regard, reported PTI.

Chadha has been under suspension since August 11 after some MPs, a majority from the ruling BJP, accused him of adding their names to a motion without their consent. The motion sought constitution of a select committee to examine the contentious Delhi Services Bill, reported PTI.

It was alleged that the Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab had moved a motion to refer the Delhi Services Bill to the select committee, reported PTI.

He had allegedly named some lawmakers as members of the proposed committee and it was claimed that some of the MPs had not given their consent for it, reported PTI.

Taking note of the complaint, the chairman suspended Chadha, pending an inquiry by the Committee of Privileges, reported PTI.

Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over the indefinite suspension of a Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha and its impact on the right of the people to be represented while calling the exclusion of a member of the political opposition from the house a "serious matter", reported ANI.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also questioned whether the Privileges Committee could issue such an order to indefinitely suspend an MP, reported ANI.

The bench remarked, "Such kind of indefinite suspension will have ramifications on the people whose constituency is going unrepresented? Where is the power of the privilege committee to indefinitely suspend the member?", reported ANI.

The bench said the exclusion of a member of the political opposition from the House was a serious matter, reported ANI.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)