Shruti Suman
The Supreme Court has accepted a petition from AAP MP Raghav Chadha challenging his suspension from the Rajya Sabha. He was suspended on the grounds of allegedly forging signatures of fellow MPs and nominating them for a panel without their consent. The Supreme Court has requested responses from the Rajya Sabha secretariat and has also sought the assistance of the Attorney General of India in this matter. The case is scheduled for the next hearing on October 30.
During the proceedings, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud inquired whether a member can be suspended from the Rajya Sabha while an inquiry against the MP is pending.
Raghav Chadha’s suspension in August came after four MPs accused him of nominating them for a house panel without their consent. He had proposed the establishment of a select committee to review the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which granted the central government increased authority in the administration of Delhi. The bill has since become law.
According to a Rajya Sabha bulletin, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar received complaints from Sasmit Patra of Biju Janata Dal, S Phangnon Konyak of BJP, M Thambidurai of AIADMK, and Narhari Amin of BJP regarding this matter.
Following the MPs’ allegations of having their names proposed for the panel without their consent, the matter was referred to the privileges committee of the House. The Rajya Sabha subsequently passed a resolution, moved by Piyush Goyal, Leader of The House, to suspend Mr. Chadha until the panel submits its findings in the matter.
Goyal had described the AAP leader’s conduct in the House as “unethical” and in “outrageous disregard of the rules.”
Raghav Chadha refuted the allegations against him, asserting that the BJP targeted him because they could not accept a 34-year-old MP challenging their senior leaders. He challenged BJP leaders to produce any evidence of him forging anyone’s signature.
He stated, “The BJP’s mantra is ‘repeat a lie a thousand times, and it becomes the truth.’ Following this mantra, a misinformation campaign was launched against me. This is the reason why I had to come before you today to clear the air.”
Chadha also explained, “Whenever a controversial bill comes to the House, and a member wants this bill to be thoroughly discussed before a vote, they recommend sending it to a select committee. MPs’ names are proposed for this panel, and those who do not wish to be part of the committee can withdraw their names. When no signatures are involved, how can it be considered forgery?”
