On Tuesday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar lifted the suspension of eleven opposition MPs, one day before of the start of the Budget session. The Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee found the suspended lawmakers guilty of both breach of privilege and contempt of the Council of States.
The committee recommended in its report that the members’ current period of suspension be considered “sufficient punishment” for their transgression.
The suspended MPs apologised for their behaviour during the winter session, when the Chairs had to act due to their unrelenting protests, and the committees of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha recommended that their suspension be lifted.
Eleven members of Parliament, including Jebi Mather Hisham, L Hanumanthaiah, Neeraj Dangi, Rajmani Patel, Kumar Ketkar, G C Chandrashekhar, Binoy Viswam, Santosh Kumar P, M Mohamed Abdulla, John Brittas, and A A Rahim, were found “guilty of breach of privilege and contempt of the Council” of States.
Chairman rescinded their suspension by using the power granted to him by the procedural norms. The opposition MPs will be allowed to attend the president’s special address following the revocation of their suspension.
During the winter session of Parliament, the chairman suspended the 11 Members of Parliament. The Privileges Committee was also tasked with handling their suspension case.
146 opposition members of parliament—100 from the Lok Sabha and 46 from the Rajya Sabha—were suspended for repeatedly interfering with parliamentary business by bringing placards into the chambers.
The MPs were suspended by both houses of parliament for the duration of the Winter session, which concluded on December 21. Since the infractions committed by the remaining 14 MPs were deemed to be more serious, their cases were submitted to the appropriate privilege committee.
On Tuesday, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said to reporters, “Everyone’s suspension will be withdrawn.” On behalf of the government, we made this request, and the Speaker and the Chairperson agreed.”
