Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
State will write to RS against Raut
MP faces breach of privilege motion for calling legislature a house of thieves
MUMBAI: Given the conflicting views on possible action against Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut over his alleged breach of privilege, the state legislature is expected to write to the Rajya Sabha for more clarity on the privileges of a Rajya Sabha member. In the recently formed state privilege committee, members are divided over the possible action against Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, as opposition members in the committee say that only the Upper House of Parliament has the powers to take any action against Raut.
Raut is facing a breach of privilege motion for calling the Maharashtra legislature a Chor Mandal or House of Thieves. In the absence of a privilege committee in the assembly, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar sent Raut a notice on Wednesday evening, asking him to submit his stand on his remarks within 48 hours.
On Wednesday, the state legislature appointed a 15-member privilege committee headed by BJP MLA Rahul Kul. The first meeting of the committee was held on Friday at Vidhan Bhavan.
“We are expecting a reply from Raut in a day or two,” said a member of the committee.
“Members from the opposition expressed the view that the state legislature cannot take action against a Member of Parliament, as the rights lie with the house they represent.”
The ruling party members in the committee, however, feel otherwise. “Every sovereign house has the powers and jurisdiction to take action against any person breaching its privilege,” said another committee member. “In the bicameral house system, it could be decided between two houses of the legislature or parliament but the powers of any legislative house cannot be undermined. The state legislature has now decided to write to the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the secretary general of parliament for more clarity on the issue.”