New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the privileges committee of Delhi assembly not to go ahead with the proceedings against seven BJP MLAs who have been suspended indefinitely for interrupting the LG’s address at the start of the budget session.
The single-judge bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad said since the court was hearing the matter on merit, the committee should not continue with the action against the seven legislators.“All further proceedings must be kept in abeyance,” he said.
The court said suspension of the MLAs had resulted in their constituencies going unrepresented in the House and scheduled the next hearing for Friday.
A day earlier, the bench had asked the suspended MLAs to meet the Speaker of Delhi assembly. Senior advocate Jayant Mehta, appearing for some of the MLAs, submitted before the court that they met the Speaker on Wednesday. He said they had handed a letter of apology to lieutenant governor V K Saxena, which was accepted by him. He also submitted that the MLAs had sent a copy of the letter to the Speaker via email.
In their plea, the MLAs stated that the Speaker had “arbitrarily and capriciously” accepted an AAP MLA’s proposal and put the motion before the House. They said on its acceptance by a voice vote, he had ordered their suspension “without any justification”.
The petitioners also submitted that the impugned motion was “manifestly unconstitutional and contrary to the Rules and Procedure and Conduct of Business of Legislative Assembly of Delhi”.
The single-judge bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad said since the court was hearing the matter on merit, the committee should not continue with the action against the seven legislators.“All further proceedings must be kept in abeyance,” he said.
The court said suspension of the MLAs had resulted in their constituencies going unrepresented in the House and scheduled the next hearing for Friday.
A day earlier, the bench had asked the suspended MLAs to meet the Speaker of Delhi assembly. Senior advocate Jayant Mehta, appearing for some of the MLAs, submitted before the court that they met the Speaker on Wednesday. He said they had handed a letter of apology to lieutenant governor V K Saxena, which was accepted by him. He also submitted that the MLAs had sent a copy of the letter to the Speaker via email.
In their plea, the MLAs stated that the Speaker had “arbitrarily and capriciously” accepted an AAP MLA’s proposal and put the motion before the House. They said on its acceptance by a voice vote, he had ordered their suspension “without any justification”.
The petitioners also submitted that the impugned motion was “manifestly unconstitutional and contrary to the Rules and Procedure and Conduct of Business of Legislative Assembly of Delhi”.