The Supreme Court raised concerns about the indefinite suspension of AAP leader Raghav Chadha from the Rajya Sabha, stating that excluding an Opposition member from the House is a serious matter. The Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, presiding over a three-judge bench, questioned whether the MP’s conduct breached privilege, emphasizing the importance of diverse voices in Parliament.

The CJI expressed worry over the indefinite suspension, noting that it was a cause for concern that the privileges committee had not made a decision after 75 days. The bench, also including Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoi Misra, decided to revisit the issue on November 3 but stated they would not delve into broader privilege issues or the jurisdiction of the privileges committee.

Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing Chadha, highlighted the need for guidelines on the exercise of privileges in the Lok Sabha. The charge against Chadha was related to his handling of the select committee for the GNCTD (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

The AAP member was suspended by the Rajya Sabha Chairperson following a resolution passed by the House. The Attorney General emphasized the importance of ascertaining members’ willingness, stating that it contributes to the dignity of House proceedings.