Raghav Chadha suspension: SC asks AAP MP to apologise to RS chairperson

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.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to apprise it of the developments in the matter after the Diwali vacation.

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.

Chadha has been under suspension since August 11 for “breach of privilege” 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.

It was alleged that the Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab had moved a motion to refer the Delhi Services Bill to the select committee. 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. The Upper House of Parliament passed a resolution moved by leader of the House Piyush Goyal to suspend Chadha till the privileges committee submits its findings.

During Friday’s hearing Chadha’s lawyer told the court that the AAP leader is ready to meet the Rajya Sabha chairman and apologise in person.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, also agreed that Chadha apologising would be a better option. Both parties have been asked to apprise the court about the progress on November 20.

Chadha was the second AAP MP to be suspended from Rajya Sabha during Parliament’s Monsoon session. Senior leader Sanjay Singh - who was arrested on October 4 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case - was suspended from the Rajya Sabha on July 24.

(With agency inputs)