SC issues notice to RS Secretary on Sakshi's expulsion

New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notice to Rajya Sabha Secretary Yogendra Narain on a petition of former Rajya Sabha member Swami Sakshi Maharaj challenging his expulsion from the House for his alleged involvement in the MP Local Area Development (LAD) funds scandal.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabarwal and Mr Justice C K Thakker ordered the matter to be listed along with the writ petitions filed by 11 MPs including 10 Lok Sabha members and one Rajya Sabha member, also challenging their expulsion from the Parliament for their alleged involvement in the Cash for Query scam.

When the court reminded the petitioners' counsel K H Chauhan that the term of the petitioners was already over and the petition has become ineffectual, he said the stigma was still there and that has to be removed.

Contending that there was no provision in the Indian Constitution for expulsion of an MP, the counsel cited a US Supreme Court judgement in a related case.

The court, however, said there shall be no notice to the Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

Sakshi Maharaj was initially a BJP MP and was later on expelled from the party.

UNI AKS/SC SC DS1205