No salary, perks for rebel MP Sharad Yadav: SC

Rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav will no longer take perks and allowances as an MP, though he can for now retain a bungalow allotted to him.

The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Delhi High Court's order allowing him to continue receiving his salary and allowances. But as he “fairly” agreed not to withdraw any remuneration, the court allowed him to continue residing at his Tughlaq Road bungalow till the high court finally decided his plea against disqualification as a Rajya Sabha MP.

A vacation bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Ashok Bhushan asked the high court to decide the matter at the “earliest” as the counsel also agreed that they would not seek any adjournment.

Taking up a plea made by JD(U) MP Ram Chandra Prasad Singh against the high court's December 15 order, the bench asked Yadav's counsel, senior advocate Guru Krishna Kumar and advocate Devadatt Kamat, “How can the high court give you public money like this?”

The counsel pointed out that the interlocutory application filed by Singh in this regard has been pending before the high court. 

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, representing Singh, contended that with the disqualification of Yadav by the Rajya Sabha chairman, since the seat is vacated, under what provision he could be allowed to get salary and allowances and bungalow. He sought direction for vacating the bungalow. 

Yadav has already floated the Loktantrik Janata Dal after breaking away from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U).

The top court, however, asked the high court to decide the pending matter on July 12 by a division bench.

“Since on account of delay in proceedings, the election to the vacant posts in the case may be delayed, we request the high court to decide the writ petition at the earliest,” the bench said.