Advertisement
New Delhi: The suspension of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha was revoked by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday on the motion moved by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP GVL Narasimha Rao. Chadha’s membership, which was suspended during the monsoon session of Parliament, was restored after 115 days of suspension.
In August 2023, Chadha was suspended from the House for gross violation of rules and misconduct. The Privileges Committee of the Rajya Sabha found his suspension period sufficient despite his finding him guilty on the two charges leveled against him. Today Rajya Sabha allowed Chadha to return to the Upper House.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha responded on the revocation of his suspension from Parliament and expressed his happiness over the decision and thanked the Supreme Court and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
After his suspension was revoked, Chadha said, ‘I was suspended from Rajya Sabha on August 11. I went to the Supreme Court to cancel my suspension. The Supreme Court took cognizance of this and now after 115 days my suspension has been revoked…I am happy that my suspension has been revoked.
After the Congress’s defeat in the assembly elections, the ruling government may expect less heat in the House. With the revocation of Chadha’s suspension, there may be a change in the structure and dynamics of Rajya Sabha.
In August 2023, Raghav Chadha faced suspension from the Rajya Sabha due to allegations of serious rule violations and misconduct, defiant attitude and contemptuous conduct. However, the suspension has been lifted after 115 days after the Privileges Committee concluded that the punishment period was sufficient. The Rajya Sabha Chairman’s decision to revoke Chadha’s suspension came amid the winter session of Parliament, which began with a focus on criminal justice bills, appointment of chief election commissioners and reports on the Mahua Moitra payment scam.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha then moved the Supreme Court against his “indefinite” suspension from Rajya Sabha and called his suspension “arbitrary and illegal”. The Supreme Court had then said that the indefinite suspension of an MP could have very serious repercussions for people’s right to be represented by a person of their choice.
This development is also a reflection of parliamentary procedures that allow the review and overturn of disciplinary actions taken against members of a legislative body.
