The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned the expulsion of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Sunil Kumar Singh from the Bihar Legislative Council, labeling the decision as “highly excessive and disproportionate.” The ruling effectively reinstates Singh, nullifying the Election Commission’s December notification that had called for a by-election to fill his vacated seat.
A bench comprised of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh critically assessed the circumstances surrounding Singh’s expulsion, which stemmed from incidents of unruly behavior in the House on February 13, 2024. Despite acknowledging Singh’s conduct as “abhorrent” and unbecoming of a legislative member, the justices argued that the council’s response should have been more forgiving, suggesting a need for leniency in the legislative process.
Sunil Kumar Singh, a member with close ties to RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family, had been expelled following an ethics committee recommendation. The committee had taken issue with Singh’s vociferous sloganeering against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during a session, which included mimicking the Chief Minister’s body language and openly criticizing the ethics committee’s competence.
In lieu of expulsion, the Supreme Court has imposed a suspension for the period Singh has already served. Additionally, the court stipulated that Singh should not receive any remuneration for the time he was suspended, aligning the punishment more closely with his conduct without stripping him of his legislative role.
