In a bid to resolve the ongoing impasse concerning the suspension of seven BJP MLAs, the Delhi High Court has intervened, urging the legislators to consider apologizing to the Lieutenant Governor for their conduct during a recent session of the legislative assembly.
The court’s directive came during a hearing on Tuesday, where Justice Subramonium Prasad questioned the senior counsel representing the suspended lawmakers about the possibility of extending an apology to the Lieutenant Governor. This inquiry follows the interruption of the Lieutenant Governor’s address by the BJP MLAs, prompting disciplinary action against them.
Senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, representing the assembly, emphasized the non-political nature of the matter, highlighting its significance in upholding the dignity of the Lieutenant Governor’s office. Nandrajog cited a precedent set in the Supreme Court involving the suspension of Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP, Raghav Chadha, suggesting that a similar approach could be adopted to resolve the current standoff.
Acknowledging the suggestion, senior advocate Jayant Mehta, appearing for the suspended MLAs, expressed their willingness to extend an apology to the Lieutenant Governor.
The court adjourned the proceedings for further deliberation, directing the petitioners’ counsel to return with instructions after the lunch break. Subsequently, it was revealed that there had been some developments in the matter, leading to the postponement of further consideration to February 21.
The seven BJP MLAs, including Mohan Singh Bisht, Ajay Mahawar, O P Sharma, Abhay Verma, Anil Bajpai, Jitender Mahajan, and Vijender Gupta, had approached the high court challenging their indefinite suspension from the Assembly. They contested that their suspension impeded their participation in the ongoing Budget session and was in violation of applicable rules.
The disruption occurred during Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena’s address on February 15, with the BJP MLAs raising objections to the AAP government’s achievements while criticizing various policies.
The petitions filed by the MLAs argued that their suspension infringed upon their constitutional rights, including the right to freedom of speech and expression, as well as the privileges of elected representatives. They deemed the disciplinary action disproportionate and unjust.
Sources By Agencies
