Parliamentary privilege is a set of special rights and immunities enjoyed by members of parliament to enable them to perform their parliamentary duties without any hindrance. These rights are collectively enjoyed by each House of Parliament and individually by its members. The Constitution of India provides for these powers, privileges, and immunities in Articles 105 and 194.
Recently, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar, directed a parliamentary committee to investigate the alleged breach of parliamentary privilege by 12 opposition MPs. These MPs were accused of “disorderly conduct” that caused frequent adjournments during the first phase of the recent Union Budget.
What is Parliamentary Privilege?
Parliamentary privilege is a legal concept that provides certain rights and immunities to members of parliament to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently. These privileges are designed to protect the independence of the legislature and ensure that MPs can perform their duties without any fear or hindrance.
The privileges and immunities granted to MPs include freedom of speech, freedom from arrest in civil cases during the session of parliament, and immunity from legal action for things said or done in the House. These privileges are essential for ensuring that MPs can speak their minds without any fear of legal repercussions.
Parliamentary privilege also includes the right to investigate, regulate, and punish any breach of privilege. This ensures that MPs can hold themselves and others accountable for their actions and maintain the integrity of the parliamentary system.
What Happened in the Recent Case?
During the first phase of the Union Budget, 12 opposition MPs were accused of “disorderly conduct” that led to frequent adjournments of the House. This disrupted the proceedings of the House and prevented MPs from carrying out their duties effectively.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar directed a parliamentary committee to investigate the alleged breach of parliamentary privilege by these MPs. The committee will investigate the matter and determine whether the MPs violated parliamentary privilege. The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what action will be taken against the MPs if they are found to have breached parliamentary privilege.
