SC asks AAP's Raghav Chadha to apologise unconditionally to RS chairman
Supreme Court on Friday asked Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha to meet Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar and tender an unconditional apology, as a «way forward» to end his suspension from the Upper House of Parliament.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud suggested that Chadha's apology be considered «sympathetically» by the chairperson. The development took place during the resumed hearing of a petition filed by Chadha, challenging his indefinite suspension from the Rajya Sabha.
Chadha was suspended on August 11 for allegedly obstructing the House proceedings.
During the hearing, counsel for Chadha informed the bench that Chadha is the youngest member of the House and has no problem in tendering an unconditional apology to the chairperson.
«Bearing in mind that he had no intention to attack the dignity of the House, it is assured that Raghav Chadha shall meet the chairperson and tender an unconditional apology which shall be considered sympathetically in the background of facts and circumstances of the house,» a bench headed by the CJI ordered. The matter will come up for resumed hearing after the Diwali break.
At the last hearing, the top court observed that the indefinite exclusion of a member of the Opposition from the Upper House is a «very serious matter».
The bench had questioned the rule which gives power to suspend a member of the House indefinitely.
Speaking for the bench, the CJI at the last hearing had verbally remarked that «proportionality (theory of law)» needs to be factored in. «Some proportionality is a part of our jurisprudence,» he had observed.
Chadha was suspended on the charge that he did not ascertain the willingness of certain members whose names were
