HC Reverses Roja's Suspension From AP Assembly

The Telugu Desam Party government of Andhra Pradesh was embarassed with the suspension of YSR Congress Party MLA R K Roja from the AP Assembly being set aside temporarily by the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday.

After hearing the arguments of Indira Jaisingh, senior Supreme Court advocate appearing for the petitioner Roja, and Additional Advocate-General D Srinivas on Wednesday, the High Court passed interim orders setting aside the action of the AP Assembly suspending the film-actor-turned-politician for one year.

Posting the case for further hearing after four weeks, the court also said that Roja could attend the ongoing session of the Assembly.

The Nagari MLA had been suspended following a ruckus that unfolded in the House during a heated debate on December 18 last year. Legislature Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu had then moved a motion for suspending the YSRCP member on charges of impugned actions and alleged derogatory remarks. Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, after a voice vote on the motion, suspended the member for one year.

Thereupon, Roja tried to knock at the doors of the High Court, but her petition was rejected by the Registrar's Office on the ground that it was not tenable, forcing her to move the Supreme Court pleading for the setting aside of her suspension so that she could attend the ongoing budget session.

The apex court on Tuesday directed the High Court to take up the petition and inquire into the matter. Accordingly, the matter came up before the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale on Wednesday. After hearing the arguments of both the sides, the court posted the case for orders for Thursday, on which day the suspension of the YSRCP MLA was set aside.

Speaking to the waiting media personnel, Indira Jaisingh, counsel for the petitioner Roja, said that though it was an interim order, it had amply established that justice and democracy always prevailed.

Roja said that she would attend the Assembly session after receiving the court's order.

It is a victory not only for democracy, but also for the people of her constituency, who had stood by her all the time, she claimed. She would continue to take up various issues concerning the people more vigorously in the Assembly, she said.

The quashing of the suspension of Roja has come as a morale booster to the YSR Congress Party and a shot in the arm for its chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. It may have also put Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Legislature Affairs Minister Ramakrishnudu in a difficult position. It has also provided ammunition for the YSRCP to claim that their allegation of partisan attitude by the Speaker has been vindicated.