Playing spoilsport with the celebratory mood in the opposition YSRC, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday set aside the single judge bench order which stayed the suspension of MLA RK Roja from Assembly for one year.
In December last, Andhra Pradesh Assembly suspended Roja for one year for her objectionable behavior and the language she used against chief minister and a woman MLA from ruling party. Though first refused to entertain her petition, the Hyderabad High Court took up the matter following the directive from the Supreme Court. Later, the single judge bench of Justice Ramalingeswar Rao , on March 17, quashed the suspension imposed on Roja by AP Assembly. But, the Assembly refused to honor the High Court order and appealed against the order in the division bench. The secretary of Legislative affairs filed the petition in the Court on behalf of the government, as the suspension motion was moved by the minister for legislative affairs.. While Supreme Court senior advocate PP Rao appeared on behalf of government, another noted senior counsel Indira Jaisingh argued for Roja. The arguments revolved around the rule 340 under which the Assembly suspended Roja. While the counsel for Roja argued that it was wrong, PP Rao said the Assembly could rectify that wrong under Article 194(3).
The order of single judge bench emboldened the YSR party to intensify its agitation against suspension of Roja from the House. Armed with the order, for two days the party boycotted House, staged dharnas, led a march to Ambedkar statue at Tank Bund, while the privilege committee of Assembly endorsed the one year suspension. The Assembly did not allow her enter the house. Later, the House tabled the report of the privilege committee. Debating on the recommendations of the House, all most all members, who spoke, supported the suspension. Interestingly, the debate revolved around Roja’s unrepentant attitude. Many members suggested that an apology from the suspended member would be least one could expect in the House. TDP member, Anita, who was allegedly the target of Roja’s abusive verbal attack, candidly said what all she expects from Roja was an apology in the House.
Reflecting the mood of the members, the house resolved to give one more opportunity to Roja to appear before the privilege committee to give her version on the charges leveled against her. While reading out the resolution, speaker Kodela Sivaprasadarao also referred to the tradition of tendering apology by the members when things get out of hand in the House to restore the normality. This is a clear invitation for Roja to settle the matter in an amicable way.
Though the YSRC members say the party would move the Supreme Court against the division bench order, indirectly, the chief justice Bhosale bench presented Roja with an opportunity to settle the matter within the purview of legislature frame work- by appearing before the privilege committee as her colleagues , who faced similar privilege charges, did and got themselves cleared of the charges by their explanations.
