The Supreme Court has taken a conciliatory approach in the ongoing case of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha’s suspension from the Rajya Sabha, suggesting a potential resolution. During the hearing, Chadha agreed to tender an unconditional apology to the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, with the apex court urging the Chairperson to view the apology sympathetically.
Also read- Supreme Court Expresses Concern Over Indefinite Suspension Of AAP MP Raghav Chadha (lawchakra.in)
Chadha’s suspension, which occurred on August 11 during the monsoon session, has been a point of contention, with the Supreme Court previously describing the indefinite nature of the suspension as a “serious matter.” The youngest member of the Rajya Sabha, Chadha, was suspended pending an inquiry by the Privileges Committee for allegedly failing to verify the consent of certain members before proposing their names for a Select Committee.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted Chadha’s status as a first-time parliamentarian and suggested that the Chairperson, being a senior constitutional functionary, might take an objective stance.
“Last time we said that if he was tendering an apology, the Chairperson, who is a very distinguished person and a senior constitutional functionary, perhaps he may take an objective view,”
remarked the CJI.
Both the Attorney General and the Solicitor General concurred with the court’s suggestion. When the CJI inquired if Chadha would be willing to apologize, Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing Chadha, affirmed,
“He is the youngest member in the house of elders. Of course, he doesn’t mind tendering an apology. Even in my letter to the Privileges Committee, I had said my personal apology to the Chairperson…”
Farasat also clarified that the apology would not prejudice the legal arguments against the suspension.
The bench officially recorded the statement,
“Mr. Farasat says that he is the youngest member in Rajya Sabha. Bearing in mind that he has no intention to affect the dignity of the house of which he is a member, Mr. Farasat submits that the petitioner will seek an appointment with the Chairperson so that he may place an unconditional apology which may be considered sympathetically.”
The Supreme Court’s intervention highlights the delicate balance between parliamentary privilege and the representation of the electorate. The matter is now set to be revisited after the Diwali break, with the court’s directive potentially paving the way for Chadha’s return to the Rajya Sabha.
