New Delhi, April 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday granted two weeks to the Lok Sabha secretariat to file its response on the plea of the West Bengal Chief Secretary and other officials challenging the notice issued to them by the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee.
The notice was sent over a complaint by BJP leader and MP Sukanta Majumdar alleging misconduct and life-threatening injuries,
A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice J.B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra allowed the request of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek time to reply.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the West Bengal officials told the bench that the privilege committee had acted very fast.
In February, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the state of West Bengal told the bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud that the complaint was based on falsehood.
It is alleged that Majumdar was stopped from entering Sandeshkhali, where women have been agitating over alleged atrocities committed against them by Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides.
Thereafter summons were issued by the Lok Sabha committee to West Bengal Chief Secretary Bhagwati Prasad Gopalika, Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar, Concerned District Magistrate and Assistant Superintendent.
On the last date, Singhvi argued that the invocation of privilege committee proceedings in such a context was not justified.
The counsel for the Lok Sabha secretariat however clarified that the privileges committee's proceedings were a routine procedure and this was the first sitting of the committee. UNI SNG AKS SSP