The Hindu : 'Tamil Nadu Speaker's order incorrect, improper'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 30, 2003

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National

'Tamil Nadu Speaker's order incorrect, improper'

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR NOV. 29. The Speaker of the Orissa Legislative Assembly, Sharat Kumarkar, has said the action of his counterpart in Tamil Nadu against the Editor and four other representatives of The Hindu was "incorrect, improper and unwarranted''.

The South Zone secretary of the Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspapers, T.G. Adaveeshappa, told presspersons here on Saturday that Mr. Kumar criticised the action of the Tamil Nadu Speaker at a national seminar on "People, power and press'' in Bhuvaneshwar, organised by the federation and the Orissa Government early this week. The Orissa Law Minister, Biswabhushan Harichandan, supported Mr. Kumarkar's view, he said.

Mr. Adaveeshappa, who returned here today after attending the seminar, quoted Mr. Kumarkar as having said that Speakers of Legislative Assemblies enjoyed supreme power only in matters pertaining to the sessions of the House.

They were duty-bound to ensure that their action did not affect the rights of an individual guaranteed under the Constitution. Legislatures should do everything possible to uphold freedom of the press, Mr. Kumarkar said.

Mr. Adaveeshappa said many other speakers at the seminar criticised the action of the Tamil Nadu Speaker.

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