The Delhi high court has asked suspended BJP MLA O.P. Sharma and AAP MLA Alka Lamba to appear before it on Thursday and amicably resolve their differences.
The Delhi high court has asked suspended BJP MLA O.P. Sharma and AAP MLA Alka Lamba to appear before it on Thursday and amicably resolve their differences. The BJP MLA, who was suspended by the Delhi Assembly for making personal remarks against Ms Lamba, had moved court seeking relief.
Justice Manmohan Singh on Wednesday asked them to come to court, saying: “I will talk to them and finish the issue.”
The court’s direction came while hearing a petition filed by Mr Sharma, who was present in the courtroom, against his suspension from the House on March 31 for next two sessions. A two-day special session of the Legislative Assembly will commence on Thursday.
During the hearing, senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, who appeared for the Delhi government, claimed that Mr Sharma has not “regretted” what he had said about Ms Lamba.
Referring to a report of the Ethics Committee of the Delhi Assembly on the issue, he said that Mr Sharma was given chances to express regret, but he had refused. “He (Mr Sharma) had no remorse for what he had said. He had said that his intention was not wrong. The Ethics Committee was left with no option. There was discussion on his expulsion in the House as well. The Leader of Opposition of the House had also made efforts to make him regret, but Mr Sharma refused,” he said.
To this, the court asked whether there was any chance of resolving the issue. In response, Mr Nandrajog said, “Yes. If he (Mr Sharma) regrets, there is a chance.” “If the government is ready, you should resolve it,” the court said.
Senior advocate Aman Lekhi, who represented Mr Sharma, said they were not in court on the procedural aspect, but substantial lapses were committed while suspending the BJP MLA for two sessions. Mr Lekhi said in case the issue was not resolved on Thursday between his client and the AAP MLA, his submissions on the petition should be heard. “But come with an open mind. I just want that these things should not happen. I fail to understand that when people have so much freedom then why these things are happening,” the court said. The Ethics Committee had earlier “unanimously” recommended stripping Mr Sharma of his membership.
