Raja Ram Pal case
Also called: Cash-for-query case (2007) · Topic: Parliamentary Procedure, Committees and Privileges · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Raja Ram Pal case (2007) is a Supreme Court ruling on the power of Parliament to expel its members. It arose from the cash-for-query scandal, where MPs were caught taking money to ask questions in Parliament, and the Houses expelled them. The court upheld the expulsions. It held that a House can expel a member as part of its privileges. It also held that courts can review such action in a limited way, for example for illegality or unconstitutionality.
Example
The expelled MPs argued that Parliament had no power to remove them. The court disagreed and upheld the expulsions. It added that a House's privileges are not wholly beyond court review.
Don't confuse with
- Disqualification under the Tenth Schedule: this is the loss of a seat for defection, decided by the Speaker. Expulsion is a punishment the House itself imposes for misconduct.
Related concepts
- Parliamentary privileges
- Individual privileges
- Collective privileges
- Bar on courts inquiring into parliamentary proceedings
- Breach of privilege
- Contempt of the House
- Privilege motion
- Committee of Privileges
- Ethics Committee
- Keshav Singh case