New Delhi: BJP and its Parliamentary Board members were today directed by the Delhi High Court to respond to Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani’s application to appoint a local commissioner to record evidence in a case relating to his expulsion by the Board in May, 2013.
Issuing notice to BJP and its Parliamentary Board, Justice Manmohan Singh directed them to file their responses within three weeks on the leader’s plea which is “pending adjudication since May 2013”.
The senior lawyer was sacked from the party in May, 2013 after he openly criticised some of the Board members, against which he has filed suit over his expulsion from the party.
Advocate Ashish Dixit, appearing for the senior leader, has sought a direction from the court that “evidence be recorded by a Commissioner appointed by the court in a time- bound manner preferably with one month from the date of the order”.
The leader in his evidence has said that “merely taking note of a breach of discipline of members of the parliamentary party does not confer or create the power to suspend or expel a member of the party”.
He further said that the prayers made by him in the suit may kindly be allowed.