New Delhi, 13-12-2023 : The Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, will make the decision regarding the listing of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra’s plea challenging her expulsion from the Lok Sabha. Moitra’s urgent plea was brought before a bench consisting of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia.
During the mention of the plea, Justice Kaul informed senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi that the Chief Justice of India would make the final decision. CJI Chandrachud, leading a five-judge Constitution bench assembled for a hearing on a separate matter that day, is tasked with deciding the fate of Moitra’s case.
The TMC leader had approached the Supreme Court to contest her expulsion from the Lok Sabha, following the adoption of the ethics committee’s report by the House. The committee found her guilty of accepting gifts and illegal gratification from a businessman to further his interests.
The sequence of events leading to Moitra’s expulsion unfolded on December 8, marked by a heated debate in the Lok Sabha. During this session, Moitra was denied the opportunity to speak on the panel report. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi subsequently moved a motion to expel Moitra from the House for what was deemed “unethical conduct.” The motion was adopted by a voice vote.
In response to her expulsion, Moitra strongly criticized the action, likening it to a verdict by a “kangaroo court.” She also alleged that the government was weaponizing a parliamentary panel to coerce the opposition into submission. The case now awaits the Chief Justice’s decision on the listing of Moitra’s plea before the Supreme Court.