Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao today said it was the onus of every member to protect the "dignity and sovereignty" of the House.
"Everyone should try to protect the dignity and sovereignty of the House. The House is always supreme," the Speaker remarked, even as he announced that the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad has set aside an interim order issued by a single judge staying the Assembly's proceedings (of December 18, 2015) placing YSR Congress MLA R K Roja under suspension for a year.
"I am yet to receive the full text of the judgement (by a division bench headed by acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale). But, according to information, the court has set aside the order of the single judge (issued last week)," the Speaker said, after Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu wanted to know about the High Court verdict on an appeal filed by the Legislature Secretary.
"We have been hearing rumours about the court judgement. Since it is on a matter pertaining to the House, we want to know from you about the judgement. Everybody in the House is anxious to know about it," a visibly joyous Yanamala said.
"Past is past. Let us all uphold the dignity and sovereignty of the House," the Speaker added.
Roja, the so-called "firebrand", MLA from Nagari in Chittoor district, was suspended from the service of the House for a year for using "unparliamentary" and "abusive" language against certain members of the TDP, including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on December 18 last year.
TDP MLA V Anitha complained against Roja to the Committee of Privileges of the Assembly and sought necessary action.
A four-member committee headed by Deputy Speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad was specially constituted to look into the behaviour of Roja and four other MLAs of YSRC in the House, amid allegations of use of unparliamentary and abusive language by them.
The Buddha Prasad committee held the opposition MLAs guilty of misconduct and recommended a one-year suspension of Roja and stern action against another MLA Kodali Srivenkateswara Rao (Nani).
It recommended letting off three others - Jyothula Nehru,
Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy and K Sridhar Reddy - with a warning after they expressed "regrets" over their behaviour and promised to mend their ways.
Though Nani also expressed regrets, the committee wanted stern action against him given his behaviour and use of derogatory words.
The Committee of Privileges endorsed the Buddha Prasad committee report and suggested action against the erring MLAs as recommended.
The Assembly discussed the matter for over four hours yesterday and decided to exonerate Nehru, Bhaskar Reddy and Sridhar Reddy while deferring a decision on Nani.
The House decided to give one more opportunity to Roja to appear before the Committee of Privileges though she did not attend four previous meetings citing different reasons.
"The year-long suspension against Roja will continue, pending disposal of the matter by the Committee of Privileges," the Speaker announced.
Incidentally, Roja all through stoutly refused to express regrets to the House over her behaviour.
"Even if she expresses regrets now, the House can still take disciplinary action against her," a key Legislature functionary pointed out.
The TDP is said to be keen on leaving Roja no escape route out of this tangle.
