On Wednesday, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the plea by Republic Media Network editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami challenging the privilege violation motion filed against him in the Assembly earlier this month. Living law reported. The court said the matter will be discussed after a week.
The statement was heard by a court of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, Bar and bench reported. The motion of privilege had been approved by Goswami’s criticism of the state government’s inaction in the case of the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.
Lead attorney Harish Salve appeared for Goswami on the matter. In his arguments, Salve said that the privilege of the Assembly cannot extend beyond the House just because someone used harsh words against the government. Salve said that a motion for violation of privilege can only be moved if there is some obstacle or obstruction in the functioning of the Assembly. “Goswami has not hindered the operation of the house, it cannot be invoked against him,” said Salve.
To this, Judge Bobde said that “interference” in the functioning of the Assembly may not be just physical interference. “The phrase used is interference in the conduct of the Assembly,” Salve replied. “If someone does a ‘gherao’ of the assembly, that will be a violation of privilege.”
The bank also said it doubted the privilege violation motion had passed through the Privilege Committee before it was approved. Salve said a defamation notice could have been given, rather than passing a motion of privilege, PTI reported. The bank said no motion has been issued, just a notice.
“I hope I am fully protected [by the law]Said Salve, speaking for Goswami. He said that Goswami could go back to court if “something happens.”
The movement
Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik had filed the motion for violation of privileges, accusing Goswami of using derogatory language against Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Pawar. MLA Manisha Koyande had tabled a similar motion in the Legislative Council.
The Assembly then sent a 60-page notice to Goswami, claiming that he had violated the privileges of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. A similar motion of privilege has been filed against actor Kangana Ranaut for claiming that Mumbai resembles Pakistani-occupied Kashmir.
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