RS panel holds Raghav Chadha guilty of breach of privilege; House approves suspension so far as 'sufficient punishment'

New Delhi [India], December 4 (ANI): Rajya Sabha on Monday decided to discontinue the suspension of AAP MP Raghav Chadha holding him "guilty of breach of privilege" and noting that the suspension suffered by him so far be taken as sufficient punishment.
The motion for discontinuing the suspension of Raghav Chadha, on the first day of the winter session of Parliament, was moved by BJP member GVL Narasimha Rao after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked him to do so.
Chadha was suspended from the Upper House on August 11, during the Monsoon session.
The report was presented in the House by CPI-M member Elamaram Kareem.
The Chairman said the committee after "deep and thoughtful consideration" has found Raghav Chadha guilty of both the charges levelled against him.
"Charge one (is) that he intentionally and deliberately presented misleading facts to the media, misinterpreted proceedings of the council, resulting in affront to the authority of Chairman Rajya Sabha and engaged in outrageous defiance of the resolutions of the house and directives of the honourable chairman of the Rajya Sabha," Dhankhar said.
"As regards the sentence, the committee finds the suspension suffered by him since 11th August 2023 from the house thus far as the sufficient sentence that will meet the ends of justice. The committee stands committed to upholding the sanctity of Parliamentary proceedings and safeguarding the integrity of the institution. The committee expresses hope that Raghav Chadha will reflect and introspect," he added.
Moving the motion, GVL Narasimha Rao said that the House resolves that Raghav Chadha, "be held guilty of breach of privileges, and the suspension suffered by him so far be taken as sufficient punishment and the house may consider discontinuance of suspension of Raghav Chadha, member, from the service of the Council from this day".
After the motion was adopted, Dhankhar announced that Chadha may now attend the proceedings of the House.
Kareem said the report of the Committee of Privileges is on a question of alleged breach of privileges arising out of two matters - "alleged intentional and deliberate act of presenting misleading facts to the media, misrepresentation of the proceedings of the Council and affront to the authority of the Chair; and including the names of Members in the proposed Select Committee without their consent in violation of Rules, by a Member".
Chadha was suspended from the Upper House on August 11 this year for "breach of privilege" after complaints.
He was suspended till the Privilege Committee submitted its findings on the allegation against him for forging the signatures of five MPs in a motion related to the Delhi Services Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Chadha had moved to the Supreme Court court, challenging his indefinite suspension from the Upper House. Following hearings in the case, the Supreme Court asked Chadha to meet Jagdeep Dhankhar and tender an unconditional apology.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra hoped that the chairperson would take a "sympathetic" view of the matter.
The bench recorded the statements of Chadha's lawyer that the MP has no intention to affect the dignity of the House of which he is a member and he will seek an appointment with the Rajya Sabha Chairperson so that he may place an unconditional apology. (ANI)