Expulsion of scam tainted MPs a 'House decision

New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker's office today clarified that the decision to expel 10 members of the house in the ''Cash for Query'' scam was that of the House and it was wrong to attribute it to the Speaker, who merely presided over the proceedings.

Taking note of reports that predicted that the Supreme Court would decide the fate of a Rajya Sabha and 10 Lok Sabha Members this week, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's office said that the Speaker had maintained that the decision of the House was not 'justiciable' and this was unanimously upheld by the leaders of all parties, as well as legal luminaries like Fali Nariman and Andyarujina.

It was also wrong to say that the Speaker had refused to submit to the jurisdiction of the court, the said.

The apex court has stayed the byelection to the 10 Lok Sabha seats lying vacant following the expulsion of Raja Rampal and nine other Lok Sabha members. The MPs have challenged their expulsion on the grounds that in the Constitution of India there was no provision for the expulsion of the sitting members of the house and the Speaker can only disqualify a member for a certain period of time.

UNI