New Delhi/ Patna: The Supreme Court has overturned the Bihar Legislative Council’s decision to revoke the membership of Sunil Singh, a close aide of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, dealing a blow to the Nitish Kumar-led government. The court ruled that Singh will remain a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), stating that while his remarks were inappropriate, the punishment was disproportionately harsh.
The court has ordered the restoration of Singh’s membership and directed the Ethics Committee of the Legislative Council to cancel the notification of his expulsion. Following this ruling, the Election Commission annulled its notification for a by-election to the Legislative Council, confirming that no such polls will be held in Bihar.
Reacting to the verdict, Sunil Singh posted “Satyamev Jayate” on Facebook.
The Supreme Court noted that Singh’s term as an MLC extends until 2026 and that he has already been out of the House for seven months, which should be considered a sufficient penalty. The bench, comprising Justices Suryakant and N Kotishwar Singh, stated that if he misbehaves again, the Ethics Committee and the Legislative Council Chairman should decide on further action. The court also suggested that the period of expulsion from July 2024 should be regarded as a suspension.
The controversy dates back to February 13, 2024, during the budget session, when Sunil Singh used the term “Paltu” to refer to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inside the Legislative Council, triggering a heated protest. Singh was accused of raising slogans against Kumar during the altercation. The Ethics Committee considered his remarks as indecent and asked him to apologise, but he refused to express regret.
In July 2024, Awadhesh Narayan Singh, the Acting Chairman of the Ethics Committee, submitted a report on the matter. The following day, a proposal for Singh’s suspension was tabled in the House. On July 26, 2024, the Chairman terminated his membership. The report mentioned that while another member, Kauri Sahib, apologised for his remarks, Singh remained defiant and did not offer an apology.
The Supreme Court, in its ruling, emphasised that legislative bodies should adopt a more lenient approach in such cases.
