Delhi High Court Reserves Verdict on Suspension of BJP MLAs from Assembly

The Delhi High Court, led by Justice Subramonium Prasad, has reserved its verdict regarding a plea filed by seven Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs against their indefinite suspension from the Delhi Assembly. The suspension came after they interrupted Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena’s address during the Budget session’s opening day. The MLAs have contested the suspension and the referral to the privileges committee as illegal and unjustifiable, arguing that their suspension should not exceed three days and emphasizing that double jeopardy for the same offense is not permissible.

The BJP MLAs, represented by senior advocates Jayant Mehta and Kirti Uppal, have urged the court to allow their participation in Assembly proceedings, citing the lack of representation for their constituencies as a consequence of their suspension. They argue that the Delhi Legislative Assembly exceeded its powers by suspending elected MLAs beyond the immediate session, a move they claim was not executed with due caution and legality by the speaker.

The Assembly, through senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, defended the suspension as a necessary measure for maintaining self-discipline within the House, rather than an attempt to suppress dissent. The interruption of the LG’s address by the MLAs was described as a violation of conduct, with the Assembly asserting that the action was justified given the AAP’s significant majority. The court’s decision on this matter is highly anticipated, as it will address the balance between disciplinary action and the rights of elected representatives.

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