Court rejects BSP MP's plea to attend parliament

A court Tuesday dismissed the plea of arrested Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Dhananjay Singh seeking permission to attend the ongoing winter session of parliament.

Taking note of the prosecution's submission that the MP's interim bail plea sought on the same ground was earlier rejected by another court on Dec 10, Additional Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma rejected the bail plea.

Turning down the submission of Dhananjay Singh's advocate, J.S. Bhasin, who requested Singh should be allowed to attend parliament as many important bills like Lokpal Bill, Telangana bill and communal violence bill are likely to be taken up, the court said that no privilege could be accorded to an elected representative to attend legislative proceedings if he is detained under a valid order by a court.

"The present application is misuse and abuse of the process of law as it seeks to review the earlier order which cannot be done as per law," the court said.

The court referred to a Delhi High Court order that no privilege could be accorded to MPs or legislators while they are in judicial custody for a heinous offence to allow him to attend legislative proceedings. Law does not classify offenders differently for treatment according to their status in life, it added.

Presently in judicial custody, Dhananjay Singh, who represents the Jaunpur Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested and booked for destroying evidence and violating provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.

His wife Jagriti was booked for murder, attempt to murder and for violating the Juvenile Justice Act after their maid died at their Delhi residence of injuries suffered as a result of alleged torture.