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Lok Sabha MP and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday gave a privilege violation notice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Channi has given notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the matter of a tweet by PM Modi. The Prime Minister had posted the entire speech of BJP MP Anurag Thakur. However, the Congress says that the entire part of the speech cannot be tweeted as some part of it was removed from the proceedings of Parliament. Let us understand what is meant by privilege in Parliament and what action can be taken for its violation-
What does privilege mean?
MPs and MLAs in the country get some special rights. This includes many rights such as no wrong information can be given about them in the Legislative Assembly. The speech of an MP in the House cannot be challenged in any court or if another MP takes their name, then they have the right to respond. When the Legislative Assembly is in session, MPs should be the first to get information about any change in the government’s policy or law. This is the reason why the government does not make the decisions of the Union Cabinet public during the Parliament session.
What is a breach of privilege?
If a member or minister makes any comment or any person defames the reputation of an MP or prevents him from doing his work, then any MP or MLA can lodge a complaint to the speaker (or chairman in case of Rajya Sabha). He can lodge a complaint that his privileges have been violated.
Has any Prime Minister or former Prime Minister ever faced a privilege notice before?
Yes. On November 22, 1978, a year after the Emergency was lifted, the Lok Sabha privilege panel found former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty of contempt of the House. The panel, headed by Janata Party MP Samar Guha, took this decision on a privilege violation complaint filed by CPIM MP Jyotirmoy Bosu. It said that Indira Gandhi’s government had obstructed government officials from collecting information about Maruti. She was also expelled from the House in 1978.
How did the PM’s tweet violate the privileges of Charanjit Singh Channi?
According to Channi, the Prime Minister tweeted Anurag Thakur’s entire speech while some words of that speech were removed from the proceedings of Parliament. According to Channi, tweeting or making public the removed words is a violation of privileges. Generally, removed words or comments cannot be made public.
Does the Indian Parliament have proper rules on privileges?
There are certain rules for moving a privilege notice. Under Rule 222 of the House, “A member may, with the consent of the Speaker, raise a question involving a breach of privilege of a member or of the House or any committee thereof.” Rule 223 states that “A member desirous of raising a question of privilege shall give notice thereof in writing to the General Secretary not later than 10 a.m. on the day of raising the question.”
What will happen now after Channi’s privilege violation notice?
Rule 222 states that the Speaker must give his consent before taking action on it. In this case, the Speaker will examine the notice and then take a decision. If the Speaker gives his consent to such a notice, it is usually sent to the Privileges Committee for investigation. The committee hears both the accused and the complainant before submitting its report to the House.
Source: Hindi