Privileges committee to go by the book - KARNATAKA

The privileges committee of both Houses of the State legislature have decided to go “strictly with the procedures of the legislature” on the issue of summoning V. Balasubramanian, chairman of the Task Force for Recovery of Public Land and its Protection.

Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa had referred a breach of privilege motion against Mr. Balasubramanian, moved by senior Congress leader and former Speaker Ramesh Kumar to the privileges committees. The motion referred to a recent interview given by the former civil servant where he allegedly accused members of the Assembly of encroachment of forest land.

On Sunday, Mr. Balasubramanian had issued a press statement saying he would seek legal action against any move to summon him before the privileges committee of the State legislature. He said he had only re-stated what had already been published in various reports submitted to the government on encroachment of lands across the State and there was nothing contained in the interview that lowered the dignity of any member of the legislature.

Speaking to The Hindu on this issue, K.B. Koliwad, chairman of the newly-constituted privileges committee, Legislative Assembly, said the committee will “follow the procedure and take a decision on whether the former civil servant is to be summoned or not”.

The former Minister Koliwad and Congress MLA representing Ranebennur in Haveri district, said: “Mr. Balasubramanian has all rights to go to court.” He said the committee would “obey directions given by the High Court of Karnataka or any other court. We will proceed as per the law”.

MEETINGS

The panel, constituted last week, decided to hold its first meeting this week. The privileges committee of the Legislative Council, headed by Veeranna Mathikatti, also decided to hold its meeting on Wednesday (August 7).

The committee will decide on summoning Mr. Balasubramanian, editors of newspapers that published interviews of the civil servant and members of the Upper House who supported the motion, an official of the Council Secretariat told The Hindu.

Asked whether Mr. Balasubramanian would be asked to appear before the panel, Mr. Mathikatti said: “I will decide on such issues only after consultations with secretaries of the Council and Law and Parliamentary Affairs.”

He said Mr. Balasubramanian should not have issued the press statement. “We have not issued a notice to him. I will ensure amicable settlement of the issue without doing injustice to any person.”

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/privileges-committee-to-go-by-the-book/article4992833.ece