SC directs AAP MP Raghav Chadha to meet RS chair and offer unconditional apology

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

The Supreme Court on November 3 asked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Rgahav Chadha to approach the chairperson of the house and tender an unconditional apology.

The Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankar, is the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

Lawyer Shadan Farasat who appeared for Chadha told the court that he is the youngest person in the House of Elders and he would not mind meeting the chairperson of Rajya Sabha and tendering an unconditional apology.

The SC accordingly passed an order recording Farasat's statement and posted the case for hearing after Diwali to be apprised of the happenings in the issue.

The above transpired in a petition filed by Chadha challenging his suspension from Rajya Sabha over certain remarks. On October 16 SC issued notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat in the plea. The court also sought the assistance of the Attorney General for India R Venkatramani in deciding the issue. On October 30, SC noted that the suspension of the member of the opposition was of serious concern and asked the AG to assist them on the law pertaining to such issues in the parliament.

Chadha was suspended on the last day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on August 11 for "gross violation of rules, misconduct, defiant attitude and contemptuous conduct", pending a report by the privileges committee. The AAP leader in his plea has said the power to suspend indefinitely is dangerously open to excess and abuse.

It has been noted that a suspension beyond the remaining period of an ongoing session would not only be a grossly irrational measure but would also be violative of basic democratic values owing to the unessential deprivation of the member concerned and more importantly, the constituency remaining unrepresented in the House.

On August 11, a motion was passed by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha after it was moved by Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, who sought action against the AAP leader for including the names of some members of the Upper House without their consent in a proposed select committee for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.