Syllabus: GS-II
Subject: Polity
Topic: Legislature
Issue: Parliamentary Privileges
Context: The Supreme Court stayed further proceedings before a Lok Sabha Privileges Committee, which has summoned the West Bengal Chief Secretary and other officers.
Parliamentary Privileges:
- These are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament, their committees and their members.
- They are necessary to secure the independence, authority, dignity and honour of the house and the members.
- Parliamentary privileges can be classified into two broad categories:
- Collective privileges: House’s right to make rules to regulate its own procedure, punish members as well as outsiders for breach of its privileges or its contempt etc.
- Individual privileges: Freedom of speech in Parliament,Protection from arrest during the session of the parliament etc.
- Sources of Privileges:
- Constitutional Provisions-Article 105,
- Various laws made by Parliament,
- Rules of both the Houses,
- Parliamentary conventions, and
- Judicial interpretations.
Committee of Privileges:
- It is a parliamentary committee that investigates matters of breach of privilege of the House or its members.
- A breach of privilege is any act or omission that obstructs or interferes with the functioning of the House or its members, or that undermines their dignity or privileges.
- It protects the rights and dignity of the House and its members.
- The functions of the committee are semi-judicial in nature by inquiring and recommending appropriate action.
- In Lok sabha – 15 members, nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- In Rajya sabha – 10 members, nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
