HC agrees to hear Seemandhra Congress leader Rajagopal's plea

Rajagopal is seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha Speaker to accept his resignation over the Telangana issue

The Delhi High Court today decided to hear a plea of Seemandhra Congress leader and MP Lagadapati Rajagopal seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha Speaker to accept his resignation over the Telangana issue.

Justice V K Jain asked Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra to assist the court, saying that a question of law is involved in the matter.

Rajagopal had submitted his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on August 2 in protest against the Centre's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and form a separate Telangana state.

Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan, appearing for Rajagopal, argued that there is no provision in the Constitution to compel an MP to continue like this after his resignation.

"If I (Rajagopal) resign, the Speaker is bound to accept it.The Speaker does not have to go into the reasons for the resignation," the senior counsel said.

The court, however, said, "It is the prerogative of the Speaker of Lok Sabha whether to accept or not the resignation of a member."

"Whether the court can interfere into such matter has to be examined," Justice Jain said.

The court posted the matter for October 22 for further hearing of Rajagopal's plea.

Rajagopal, who represents Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency, said in his plea that even after over two months and repeated requests, the Speaker has not acted on his resignation and he is "compelled" to continue as member of Lok Sabha against his will.

He sought court's direction to the Speaker to act on his resignation.

The petition also said that he tendered the resignation from the Lower House voluntarily and out of free will and this was informed to the Speaker.

The Congress leader's move has come at a time when people of Seemandhra region have intensified their agitation against the Centre's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.