Sanyam Lodha, an Independent MLA and advisor to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, on Tuesday moved in the state Legislative Assembly a ‘Breach of Privilege Motion’ against BJP Deputy Leader R S Rathore for filing a PIL in the Rajasthan High Court over the 81 Congress MLAs’ resignation in which the Speaker kept his decision pending due to some reasons after September 25 last year.

When the Independent MLA, through a ‘Point of Order’, sought permission to speak on his motion put up under rules 157 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the assembly, the Speaker Dr C P Joshi allowed him to speak briefly to raise his issue after Zero Hour.

“A senior member of the House (Rathore) has made a  contempt and lowered dignity of the Speaker and Legislative Assembly by moving to the High Court on the matter of resignation of Congress MLAs which were under consideration by the Speaker,” Lodha alleged.

Raising a number of questions on the power and principles of the House, Lodha quizzed, “Whether we want to weaken this Institution where we are sitting? Whether the Assembly is a subordinate office of the High Court? Whether the High Court would dictate its terms and rules on the assembly? Will we approach the High Court whenever there is, if any, no response from the Speaker? Can we ask the HC to decide the assembly matters? If we cannot request or appeal for our matters in the court, how come the HC dictates the House?”

“Thus I request to take up this breach of privilege motion, consider it, examine it, and direct the member as per the rules,” he demanded.

There was uproar in the House when the BJP Deputy Leader Rathore stood up and tried to speak against the motion, but the Speaker did not allow him to do so saying, “Sit down. You cannot challenge my authority. The House runs by rules and you are a senior (member). So, it does not mean that House should be run according to you. You can dictate to me. Will you (Rathore) guide me? Who are you to stop me?”

As the Leader of Opposition, G C Kataria was asked to control his Opposition flock and the deputy leader, Rathore cool down his feet.

Later Lodha told the SNS that his privilege motion may go either to the Privilege Committee for a decision or may be discussed in the House itself.

It is noteworthy here that a PIL was filed by the BJP MLA on the Congress MLAs’ resignation row. Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker yesterday submitted in the high court a list of 81 MLAs who resigned on September 25, 2022 and withdrew on December 31, 2022. The Assembly told the court that MLAs’ resignations were to be examined whether ‘voluntary and genuine’.