9/30/2015

An Analysis of Parliamentary Privileges in India

LegalServiceIndiaAnAnalysisofParliamentaryPrivilegesinIndia
AnAnalysisofParliamentaryPrivilegesinIndia
Writtenby:JayantBhattAmityLawSchool
Chatwithus(2PM9PMIST)

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ThetermparliamentaryprivilegesisusedinConstitutionalwritingstodenoteboththesetypesofrightsandimmunities.SirThomasErskineMayhasdefinedthe
expressionParliamentaryprivilegesasfollows:ThesumofthepeculiarrightsenjoyedbyeachhousecollectivelyisaconstituentpartoftheHighCourtof
Parliament,andbymembersofeachhouseofparliamentindividually,withoutwhichtheycannotdischargetheirfunctions,andwhichexceedthosepossessed
byotherbodiesorindividuals.
ParliamentaryPrivileges
A.105.Powers,privileges,etc.,oftheHousesofParliamentandofthemembersandcommitteesthereof
1.SubjecttotheprovisionsofthisConstitutionandtherulesandstandingordersregulatingtheprocedureofParliament,thereshallbefreedomofspeechin
Parliament.
2.NomemberofParliamentshallbeliabletoanyproceedinginanycourtinrespectofanythingsaidoranyvotegivenbyhiminParliamentoranycommittee
thereof,andnopersonshallbesoliableinrespectofthepublicationbyorundertheauthorityofeitherHouseofParliamentofanyreport,paper,votesor
proceedings.
3.Inotherrespects,thepowers,privilegesandimmunitiesofeachHouseofParliament,andthemembersandthecommitteeofeachHouse,shallbesuchas
mayfromtimetotimebedefinedbyParliamentbylaw,anduntilsodefined,[shallbethoseofthatHouseandofitsmembersandcommitteesimmediately
beforethecomingintoforceofSection15oftheConstitution(44thAmendment)Act,1978].
4.Theprovisionofclauses(1),(2),and(3)shallapplyinrelationtopersonswhobyvirtueofthisConstitutionhavetherighttospeakin,andotherwisetotake
partintheproceedingsof,aHouseofParliamentoranycommitteethereofastheyapplyinrelationtothemembersofParliament.
ParliamentaryprivilegesthisarticledefinesparliamentaryprivilegesofbothHousesofParliamentandoftheirmembersandcommittees.Article194,whichisan
exactreproductionofArticle105,dealswiththeStateLegislaturesandtheirmembersandcommittees.ToenableParliamenttodischargefunctionsproperlythe
ConstitutionconfersoneachmemberoftheHousescertainrightsandimmunitiesandalsocertainrightsandimmunitiesandpowersoneachhousecollectively.
Parliamentaryprivilegeisanessentialincidenttothehighandmultifariousfunctionswhichthelegislatureiscalledupontoperform.AccordingtoMay,the
distinctivemarkofaprivilegeisitsancillarycharacteranecessarymeanstofulfillmentoffunctions.IndividualmembersenjoyprivilegesbecausetheHouse
cannotperformitsfunctionwithoutunimpededuseoftheservicesofitsmembersandbyeachHousefortheprotectionofitsmembersandthevindicationofits
ownauthorityanddignity.
Indefiningparliamentaryprivilegethisarticleadoptscertainmethod.Twoprivileges,namely,freedomofspeechandfreedomofpublicationofproceedings,are
specificallymentionedinclauses(1)and(2).WithrespecttootherprivilegesofeachHouse,clause(3)beforeitsamendmentin1978laiddownthatthepowers,
privilegesandimmunitiesshallbethoseoftheHouseofCommonsoftheUnitedKingdomatthecommencementoftheConstitutionuntiltheyaredefinedbyan
ActofParliament.Thoughsince1978positionhaschangedinsofarastheprivilegesofparliament,itsmembersandcommitteeshavetobedeterminedonthe
basisofwhattheywereimmediatelybeforethecommencementof1978amendmenti.e.,before20thJune1979.
Freedomofspeech
Article105,clause(1),expresslysafeguardsfreedomofspeechinparliament.Itsays:thereshallbefreedomofspeechinparliament.Clause(2)further
providesthatnomemberofParliamentshallbeliabletoanyproceedingsinanycourtinrespectofanythingsaidoranyvotegivenbyhiminparliamentorany
committeethereof.Noaction,civilorcriminal,willthereforelieagainstamemberfordefamationorthelikeinrespectofthingssaidinparliamentorits
committees.Theimmunityisnotlimitedtomerespokenwordsitextendstovotes,asclause(2)specificallydeclares,viz.anyvotegivenbyhiminparliamentor
anycommitteethereof.Thoughnotexpresslystated,thefreedomofspeechwouldextendtootheractsalsodoneinconnectionwiththeproceedingsofeach
House,suchas,fornoticesofmotions,questions,reportsofthecommittee,ortheresolutions.
Itmaybenotedthatclause(1)ofArticle105ismadeSubjecttotheprovisionsofthisconstitutionandtotherulesandstandingordersregulatingtheprocedures
ofParliament.ThewordsregulatingtheproceduresofParliamentoccurringinclause(1)shouldbereadascoveringboththeprovisionsoftheConstitutionand
therulesandstandingorders.Soread,freedomofspeechinParliamentbecomessubjecttotheprovisionsofConstitutionrelatingtotheproceduresof
Parliament,i.e.,subjecttothearticlesrelatingtoproceduresinPartVincludingArticles107and121.Thusforexample,freedomofspeechinParliamentwould
notpermitamembertodiscusstheconductofanyjudgeoftheSupremeCourtorofaHighCourt.Likewise,thefreedomofspeechissubjecttotherulesof
proceduresofaHouse,suchasuseofunparliamentarylanguageorunparliamentaryconduct.
Thefreedomofspeechguaranteedunderclause(1)isdifferentfromthatwhichacitizenenjoysasafundamentalrightunderArticle19(1)(a).thefreedomof
speechasafundamentalrightdoesnotprotectanindividualabsolutelyforwhathesays.Therightissubjecttoreasonablerestrictionsunderclause(2)of
Article19.Theterm?freedomofspeech?asusedinthisarticlemeansthatnomemberofParliamentshallbeliabletoanyproceedings,civilandcriminal,inany
courtforthestatementsmadeindebatesintheParliamentoranycommitteethereof.Thefreedomofspeechconferredunderthisarticlecannotthereforebe
restrictedunderArticle19(2).Clauses(1)and(2)ofArticle105protectwhatissaidwithinthehouseandnotwhatamemberofParliamentmaysayoutside.
Accordingly,ifamemberpublisheshisspeechoutsideParliament,hewillbeheldliableifthespeechisdefamatory.Besides,thefreedomofspeech.Towhich
Article105(1)and(2)refer,wouldbeavailabletoamemberofParliamentwhenheattendsthesessionofParliament,nooccasionarisesfortheexerciseofthe
rightoffreedomofspeech,andnocomplaintcanbemadethatthesaidrighthasbeeninvalidlyinvaded.

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