In a recent legal development, the Delhi High Court has handed a victory to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha, ruling against his immediate eviction from a government bungalow. This decision comes as a significant relief to Chadha, who had appealed a trial court’s order that had lifted an interim order preventing the Rajya Sabha Secretariat from removing him from the allotted government residence.
Taking to social media, Raghav Chadha expressed his views on the matter, emphasizing that this battle goes beyond a mere house or office; it’s about preserving the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution. He labeled the cancellation of his bungalow allotment as a clear case of political vendetta, intended to stifle the voice of a young and vocal parliamentarian. Chadha maintained that opposition voices, those representing the concerns of millions of Indians, are being intentionally targeted.
According to him, the dispute escalated after he delivered two speeches in parliament criticizing the BJP-led central government. He claimed that his official accommodation was canceled following his first speech, and his membership as a parliamentarian was suspended after his second speech. Chadha highlighted the difficulty faced by any parliamentarian when they are made to contemplate the potential consequences of expressing honest and forthright opinions.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani’s ruling reinstates an earlier order from April 18 by the trial court. The trial court’s directive had specified that Raghav Chadha does not possess an absolute right to continue occupying his government bungalow throughout his tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP, even after the cancellation of the allotment.
Notably, the legal battle surrounding Chadha’s suspension from the Rajya Sabha is ongoing. He was suspended on allegations of forging signatures of fellow MPs and proposing their names for committee participation without their consent. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear his case and has instructed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to address these allegations. The court has also sought the involvement of the Attorney General of India, R Venkataramani, in this matter, with further proceedings scheduled for October 30.
Raghav Chadha’s suspension from the Rajya Sabha in August was prompted by accusations from four MPs who claimed that their names were included in a committee without their consent. The legal proceedings surrounding both his bungalow allotment and suspension continue to attract attention and scrutiny.
Sources By Agencies
