AAP MP Raghav Chadha can stay in government bungalow: Delhi High Court

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• Oct 17, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha will not be required to vacate his government bungalow, as the Delhi High Court set aside a...

Digital Desk: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha will not be required to vacate his government bungalow, as the Delhi High Court set aside a trial court order. The trial court order had previously lifted an interim injunction that prevented the Rajya Sabha secretariat from evicting Chadha from his allotted residence.

Chadha had appealed the trial court's order, which he and his supporters argue was a product of political vendetta aimed at silencing a vocal and young parliamentarian who has been critical of the BJP-led central government.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Chadha stated, "This fight isn't about a house or a shop; it's about saving the Constitution."

"The cancellation of this allotment was a clear case of political vendetta, aimed at silencing a young, vocal parliamentarian... Opposition voices, those who represent the concerns of millions of Indians, are being deliberately targeted," Chadha added in the post on X.

He highlighted that his government accommodation was canceled shortly after delivering his first critical speech in parliament, followed by his suspension as a parliamentarian after a second speech. This, he claims, has created an environment where lawmakers are afraid to express their honest opinions.

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani's ruling reinstates an April 18 trial court order that directed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat not to evict Chadha. The trial court had argued that Chadha did not possess an absolute right to occupy the government bungalow for the entirety of his tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP, even after the cancellation of the allotment.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear Chadha's case challenging his suspension from the Rajya Sabha, stemming from allegations of forging the signatures of fellow MPs and proposing their names for a committee without their consent. The court has instructed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to address the accusations and has sought the assistance of the Attorney General of India, R Venkataramani. The case is scheduled to resume on October 30.

Chadha's suspension from the Rajya Sabha in August, based on the allegations of fellow MPs, has been a contentious issue, with many supporters seeing it as a politically motivated move.

The legal battles and political maneuvering continue as Chadha remains determined to assert his rights as an elected representative while his detractors seek accountability for the alleged misconduct.