Delhi government : BJP MLA engaged in immoral acts

The Delhi high court was informed on Wednesday that suspended BJP MLA O.P. Sharma, who was suspended from the Delhi Assembly for two sessions for allegedly making derogatory remarks against AAP legislator Alka Lamba, has engaged in “immoral, violent and appalling behaviour” in the past too. The court was hearing the BJP MLA’s plea challenging his suspension from the Assembly.

The Delhi government made the allegation before Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva while opposing the maintainability of Mr Sharma’s plea challenging his suspension.

“This is not the first instance of unruly and unethical conduct on the part of the petitioner (Mr Sharma). He has been repeatedly engaged in immoral, violent and appalling behaviour in the past. In one such instance, he was penalised by the House on the basis of recommendations of the Ethics Committee for causing damage to microphones in the House.

“An amount of Rs 18,560 was recovered from him towards the cost of the microphone on a motion moved in the Assembly under Rule 107 and adopted on December 3, 2015. He was also warned against resorting to such misconduct in future,” the Delhi government said in its reply filed through advocate Peeyoosh Kalra.

The AAP government’s response comes in the backdrop of a court notice issued to it in June this year after the parties failed to settle the matter amicably.

Denying the charge, Mr Sharma’s counsel said the decision of the Delhi Assembly to suspend him was “patently illegal” as it infringed upon his freedom of speech privilege.

His counsel also said the Delhi government has no right to represent the Delhi Legislative Assembly. The counsel contended that the Assembly cannot be “immune” from being made a party. The Delhi government counsel, on the other hand, said the Delhi Assembly should not have been made a party in the matter and it should have been the Delhi government instead.