Say sorry to House, SC tells Roja

​New Delhi: A bench of the Supreme Court consisting Justice Gopala Gowda and Justice Arun Mishra on Thursday asked YSRCP MLA K Roja to apologise to the House and felt that Assembly and the Government could accept the same and urged the Speaker to close the issue.

The court asked both the parties to adopt a conciliatory approach and settle the dispute amicably. The bench is all set to give its ruling on Friday.

The SC bench said the House should be run harmoniously and ego should have no place in it. When heated arguments and emotional overtones emerge, the House should keep in mind that it had no place for personal egos

Roja reiterated that she had no intention of hurting anyone's sentiments, including that of her colleague Anita. She insisted that she would not tender her regrets as there was no wrong-doing on her part

Roja’s counsel insisted on a judicial review of the decision taken by the House in suspending the member pointing out that when substantial illegality had taken place judiciary had every right to do so.

Hearing the submissions of Roja's senior counsel Indira Jai Singh for full four hours and that of the senior Counsel P P Rao and Additional Advocate General D Srinivas (on behalf of the House and the Government), the bench said the House should be run harmoniously and ego should have no place in it.

When heated arguments and emotional overtones emerge, the House should keep in mind that it had no place for personal egos. Even if some unwarranted remarks were heard being uttered, the House should immediately reconcile and continue with sagacity. The floor of the legislative bodies should not become a battlefield.

The approach of the Treasury benches and the Opposition should be to adopt an intellectual approach towards people's issues.

The House should know that though it was supreme in every respect, the people were above it and the Assembly should keep the interests of the people above everything. "People are supreme and know that their interests are paramount," the bench observed.

Andhra Pradesh had the biggest challenge of rebuilding itself after bifurcation and in building its new capital. Lack of experience and inexperience sometimes showed up in certain debates and this must not lead to prolonged exercise of appeasing bloated individual egos.

The State was confronted with gigantic problems, including drought. All energies must be directed towards reconstruction and people's welfare.

Referring to Mahabharata, the bench recalled that even Lord Krishna had given a long rope to Sisupala in waiting him to commit 100 mistakes and acted only when things were beyond a point of no return.

Such being the case an emotional outburst during a heated debate should not lead to the House turning into a battleground of bloated egos, it observed.

Turning its attention to Roja, the bench said she should express her regrets and make it a point to mention in her explanation without fail that she had not intended to hurt anyone's feelings in the House during the said debate.

Speaking to the media later, Roja reiterated that she had no intention of hurting anyone's sentiments, including that of her colleague Anita. However, she insisted that she would not tender her regrets as there was no wrong-doing on her part.

Roja, who was suspended by the Speaker of the AP Assembly, Kodela Sivaprasad Rao after Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrushnudu proposed her suspension under Rule 340 (2) of the Assembly proceedings during a debate on Call Money racket in Vijayawada.

There were complaints of exploitation of women too in this episode. Roja had entered into heated arguments with the ruling party members and had made certain remarks against the Chief Minister and some members which had led to her suspension.

Following this, Roja approached the High Court of Judicature, Hyderabad, challenging the validity of her suspension for one year and sought relief.

The High Court struck down her petition seeking a stay order on the suspension. As a final resort, Roja approached the Supreme Court.