The Supreme Court on Friday issued a directive to the suspended Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha asking him to initiate a meeting with Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar and extend an unconditional apology for his purported misconduct within the parliamentary precincts.
Chadha had faced suspension in August this year on allegations that he had failed to secure the consent of five Rajya Sabha MPs before including their names in a select committee, a move that sparked controversy.
In its order, a bench presided over by Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, specified that any apology submitted by the AAP leader would be regarded with empathy by the Rajya Sabha Chairperson.
The bench formally noted the statement given by Chadha's legal representative, affirming that the suspended AAP MP would request a meeting with Vice-President Dhankhar to clarify his lack of intention to undermine the Upper House's dignity.
Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing Chadha, emphasized that his client is the youngest member of the Rajya Sabha and is willing to readily tender an unconditional apology once again. He mentioned that the lawmaker had previously apologized on multiple occasions, highlighting, "He is the youngest member of the house, and there is no problem in tendering the apology."
The top court instructed that the case would be scheduled for further proceedings after the Diwali break, where the status of the case would be apprised.
Chadha had filed a petition with the Supreme Court, challenging his suspension from the Rajya Sabha. Earlier this week, the top court remarked that suspending an MP could have significant repercussions on the right of their electorate to representation. The Supreme Court clarified that the allegations against Chadha did not encompass forgery or the fabrication of signatures of the members who did not consent to their names being included in the parliamentary panel.
Chadha argued before the apex court that the Rajya Sabha Chairman lacked the authority to order a member's suspension pending an inquiry, particularly when the Committee on Privileges was already investigating the same issue. The AAP leader stands accused of including the names of five MPs in a motion related to the Delhi Services Bill without their consent. Chadha's suspension will remain in effect until the Committee on Privileges concludes its investigation and submits its findings.
