The Hindu : New Delhi News : Plea against M.P. Speaker admitted

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Thursday, Aug 14, 2008
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New Delhi

Plea against M.P. Speaker admitted

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has admitted a writ petition challenging the action of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker issuing a breach of privilege notice to the State Lok Ayukta.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan had in November 2007 stayed the notice issued to the Lok Ayukta, Justice (retd.) Ripusudan Dayal, who questioned the Speaker’s action as being illegal and unconstitutional. The Speaker issued the notice of breach of privilege against the Lok Ayukta and other employees in his office after it had initiated an inquiry against certain officials of the Legislature Department for alleged irregularities involving public funds amounting to Rs. 2 crore in connection with the laying of a road.

When the matter was taken up on Monday, senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the Lok Ayukta, submitted that the Speaker’s action was a brazen attempt to protect some officials and his action was a serious issue. He contended that the Speaker had acted without jurisdiction and had no such sweeping power to act in the name of breach of privilege.

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