Speaker, BJP, Congress welcome SC verdict in cash-for-query case

New Delhi, Jan 10 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, the Congress and the BJP today hailed the Supreme Court verdict upholding Parliament's right to expel members for misconduct, with the Speaker saying that the apex court's ruling has protected the dignity of country's supreme legislative body.

''I am happy with the decision taken by the Supreme Court. The verdict has protected the dignity of the supreme legislative body of the country,'' Mr Chatterjee said while reacting to the judgement.

''The Supreme Court verdict made it clear that corruption or improper behaviour is unbecoming of a Parliamentarian and should not be tolerated and that Parliament has the right to take action,'' he added.

Sealing the fate of 10 Lok Sabha and two Rajya Sabha mebers in the cash-for-query scam, the Supreme Court today held that Parliament has the power to expel a sitting member for misconduct as also for acts which lower its dignity.

Delivering a majority judgement, a five-member consitutition Bench, however, held that the final interpreter of the validity of the act of Parliament was the apex court and it had the power to judicially examine and resume the actions of Parliament.

The Congress and the BJP also welcomed the ruling. The Congress said the Supreme Court judgement made it clear that Parliament had the right to take a decision about the legislators whose conduct had not been found in conformity with the Parliamentary ethics.

''The Congress stand on further course of action in the matter is that all legal procedures should be followed,"Congress Spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan said while briefing media persons here.

Asked whether a criminal case should be lodged against the MPs found guilty of taking bribe for asking questions in Parliament, she said the Lok Sabha Speaker would take a decision on the matter.

On whether the expelled MPs could contest the election again, Ms Natrajan said the party would take a decision after examining the Supreme Court decision.

Opposition BJP joined the Congress in supporting the ruling and said all the parties should abide by it.

''The apex court order is supreme and all should abide by it.

The BJP has already taken action against erring MPs,'' party Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in Bhopal today.

UNI