PARLIAMENTARY
PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE - POLITY
News: BJP weaponizing parliamentary
privilege: Opposition
What's
in the news?
● The
Opposition held a protest in Parliament accusing the government of weaponizing
parliamentary privilege. In this session, investigations were opened against
five MPs — two from the Lok Sabha and three from the Rajya Sabha.
Breach
of Privilege:
● Breach
of privilege means the violation of any
of the privileges of MPs/Parliament.
● When
any individual or authority disregards or attacks any of the privileges, rights
and immunities, either of the members individually or of the House in its
collective capacity.
Rules
Governing Privileges:
● The
Constitution (Article 105) mentions
two privileges i.e. freedom of speech in
Parliament and right of publication of its proceedings.
● Rule
No 222 in Chapter 20 of the Lok Sabha
Rule Book and correspondingly Rule 187 in Chapter 16 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook governs privilege.
● A
member may, with the consent of the
Speaker or the Chairperson, raise a question involving a breach of
privilege either of a member or of the House.
● The
rules mandate that any notice should be relating to an incident of recent
occurrence and should need the intervention of the House.
Privilege
Committee:
● In
the Lok Sabha, the Speaker appoints a
privileges committee of 15 members according to the respective party strengths.
● The
House is then given a report for its consideration.
● While
considering the report, the Speaker may allow a half-hour debate.
● The
Speaker may then issue final instructions or request that the report be tabled
in the House.
● A
resolution pertaining to the breach of privilege may then be moved, which must
be carried unanimously.
● The vice chairman of the Rajya Sabha
chairs the privileges committee, which has ten members.