Told by SC to say sorry, AAP’s Chadha says he has sought time with Dhankhar

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had referred the matter to the Privileges Committee for investigation. Chadha was to remain suspended until the committee submitted its report.

On Friday, the Supreme Court said it hoped that Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Rajya Sabha Chairman, would take an objective and sympathetic view of the matter. Chadha had moved the court against his suspension.

“Last time we said that if he was tendering an apology, the Chairperson, who is a very distinguished person and a senior Constitutional functionary, perhaps he may take an objective view,” Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, presiding over a three-judge bench, said.

The bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, asked Chadha’s counsel Advocate Shadan Farasat, “You have already apologised six times. But would you be willing to seek an appointment with the Honourable Chairperson and meet the Chairperson and tender an apology?”

Farasat replied in the affirmative and said Chadha “is the youngest member in the House of Elders. Of course, he doesn’t mind tendering an apology. Even in my letter to the Privileges Committee, I had said my personal apology to the Chairperson.”

With Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also agreeing to the suggestion, the bench recorded the statement of Chadha’s counsel.

“It is submitted that he (Chadha) is the youngest member of the august House. Bearing in mind that he has no intention to affect the dignity of the House of which he is a member, Mr Farasat submits that petitioner will seek an appointment with Chairperson so that he may place an unconditional apology which may be considered sympathetically,” it said.

In a post on X later, Chadha said, “Pursuant to order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court today where I undertook to meet the Hon’ble Chairman of Rajya Sabha personally, I have sought an appointment from the Hon’ble Chairman for an early meeting in respect of my suspension as a Member of Parliament.”

Meanwhile, the Privileges Committee met Friday and sought a report from Chadha by November 7.