In a major ruling, the Supreme Court has overturned the expulsion of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Sunil Singh from the Bihar Legislative Council, deeming the punishment excessive despite acknowledging his attempts to disrupt proceedings.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh found that while Singh’s actions—marked by protest slogans against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar—were disruptive, the response from the House went beyond reasonable measures.
“The petitioner’s behavior reflects an attempt to obstruct justice, but legislative bodies must exercise restraint and avoid disproportionate penalties. His expulsion raises concerns about the fundamental rights of his constituency’s voters,” the Court observed.
With this ruling, Singh has been reinstated and can now participate in Council proceedings. The Court also nullified the Election Commission’s notification for bye-elections to his seat.
Singh, a close associate of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, was initially expelled following a recommendation from the Ethics Committee after his disruptive behavior in the House. The Supreme Court, however, ruled that the committee’s recommendation was excessive and that the seven months Singh spent out of office should be considered sufficient penalty.
While reinstating his position, the Court clarified that Singh will not receive remuneration for the period of his expulsion but will be treated as a sitting MLC for all other purposes.