The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 25 February, has overturned the expulsion of RJD leader Sunil Kumar Singh from the Bihar Legislative Council, ruling that the punishment for his unruly behavior was excessive and disproportionate.

The court's decision highlights concerns over the fairness of legislative disciplinary actions. Singh had been expelled for alleged misconduct in the House, but the ruling now allows him to resume his position.

While terming Singh’s conduct as abhorrent and unbecoming of a member of the House, a bench of justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh said the legislative council should be more magnanimous.

The court also set aside the Election Commission's notification in December 2024 announcing bypoll for the seat held by Singh.

The bench awarded the punishment of suspension for the period already undergone by Singh for his “unbecoming” conduct, and said he would not seek any remuneration for the suspension period.

On 26 July 2024, Singh was expelled from the Bihar Legislative Council for his unruly behaviour in the House.

Singh, considered close to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad and his family, was charged with sloganeering against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on 13 February 2024, during a heated exchange in the House.

In 2024, the motion for Singh's expulsion was passed by voice vote, a day after the ethics committee submitted its report to acting chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh.

Singh was also charged with "insulting the chief minister by mimicking his body language" and questioning the competence of the members of the ethics committee after appearing before it.

With PTI inputs