The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a response from the AP Assembly Secretary on the appeal of YSR Congress MLA Roja, challenging her one-year suspension from the assembly for allegedly making objectionable comments against chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The Hindu reported that a bench led by Justice V. Gopala Gowda issued a notice to the Assembly Secretary and posted the case for hearing on April 19 for final arguments.

Roja in her petition had said the maximum period for which an MLA could be suspended under the relevant rule was till the remaining period of the session of the House, which got completed on December 22.

Following this, she obtained an interim order from the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad but was still denied entry into the Assembly by the ruling Telugu Desam Party.

Last Saturday, the Privileges Committee of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly issued a notice to YSR Congress MLA Roja to appear before it on April 6 with regard to the ongoing row of her suspension, following which the MLA attended the committee meeting and presented her case.

The actress-turned-MLA from Nagari constituency in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh had said her suspension from the assembly on December 18 last year was arbitrary and done by a voice vote.

Her suspension had come over alleged objectionable comments made during a debate on the call money racket of private money lenders harassing and exploiting borrowers after providing them easy loans.