Supreme Court Sets Aside Expulsion Of RJD Leader Sunil Kumar Singh From Bihar Legislative Council

The Supreme Court has set aside the expulsion of RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) leader Sunil Kumar Singh from the Bihar Legislative Council for his unruly behaviour in the House.

The Court said that such an expulsion is highly excessive and disproportionate.

The two-Judge Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh said that the Legislative Council should be more 'magnanimous'.

The Bench, however, termed the conduct of RJD leader as abhorrent and unbecoming of a member of the House. It also set aside the Election Commission's notification in December last announcing by-poll for the seat held by Singh.

The Court awarded the punishment of suspension for the period already undergone by Singh for his 'unbecoming' conduct, saying that he would not seek any remuneration for the suspension period.

On July 26, 2024, Singh was expelled from the Bihar Legislative Council for his unruly behaviour in the House. Singh, considered close to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his family, was charged with sloganeering against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on February 13, 2024, during a heated exchange in the House.

In 2024, the motion for Singh's expulsion was passed by voice vote, a day after the ethics committee submitted its report to acting Chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh.

Singh was also charged with "insulting the chief minister by mimicking his body language" and questioning the competence of the Members of the Ethics Committee after appearing before it.

With PTI Inputs