New Delhi: Sanjay Singh, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) senior leader recently re-elected to the Rajya Sabha, was denied summons to take oath.
Singh was suspended on July 24, 2023, and on August 11, the House passed a motion continuing his suspension till the Privileges committee submits its findings.
He was arrested and charge-sheeted in the Delhi Excise policy money laundering case. However, the Rouse Avenue court on February 3 (Saturday) allowed him to take oath under judicial custody.
According to the Hindu, Singh did attend parliament on February 5 (Monday), following the directive of Special Judge M.K. Nagpal. The judge, in his order on February 3, extended Singh’s judicial custody until February 17 and instructed the concerned jail superintendent to ensure he’s taken to Parliament by 10 am for the swearing-in ceremony, under adequate security measures.
However, Singh was not permitted to address the press during this time.
Sources told the daily that Singh’s wife had phoned opposition leaders, urging them to show solidarity by being present in the House.
When asked why the oath was not administered, the office of Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said: “Summons [for taking oath] were not issued to Mr. Sanjay Singh who had also been elected, as he suffered the directives of the House passes on August 11, 2023, disentitling him from participating in the proceedings of the House till the House takes decision on the report of the committee of privileges as and when presented to it. The fact that this matter pertains to his previous term has no impact on this directive.”
Opposition leaders expressed criticism over the delay in the oath-taking ceremony, with Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien saying that Parliament has become a “deep dark chamber.”
“Our friend Mr. Sanjay Singh was deprived of taking oath today after being elected as MP for the second time and despite the court’s instructions. This is the new parliamentary paradigm of the so-called Amrit Kaal,” Rashtriya Janata Dal MP and senior leader Manoj K. Jha said, reported the newspaper.
When an MP is denied the opportunity to take oath in Parliament, it typically means they cannot fulfill their responsibilities, such as participating in legislative discussions and raising issues on behalf of their constituents. The absence of the MP may also affect the balance of power in parliamentary votes.
Here are the steps required for Sanjay Singh’s oath-taking:
- 1. On 11 August, 2023, Upper House passed an order that Singh will remain suspended till Privilege Committee gives report and the House takes a decision on that report.
- 2. The Privilege Committee is yet to submit its report. (Even a meeting of the committee is yet to be scheduled.)
- 3. When the committee report is presented to the Rajya Sabha, the House will decide on Singh’s suspension.
- 4. If suspension is revoked, then the Rajya Sabha Secretariat will issue summons to Singh to come and take oath. (No summons have been issued to him.)
- 5. Then he will be administered oath as a Rajya Sabha member.