End privileges

End privileges

Karnataka Speaker moving to jail journalists is a clear misuse of extraordinary powers.
In recognition of the importance of freedom of expression, the Karnataka high court has intervened after KB Koliwad, Speaker of the legislative assembly, authorised harsh punishment of one-year imprisonment and Rs 10,000 fine on two journalists Ravi Belagere, Editor of Hi Bangalore and Anil Raj, editor and publisher of Yelahanka Voice, for allegedly writing defamatory articles against three legislators. The court has told the Speaker to reconsider the arrest order and find an acceptable solution to end the crisis. Using extraordinary breach of privilege powers granted to it, originally intended to insulate functioning of elected assemblies from extraneous pressures but now proven to be far in excess of that function, the privileges committee report recommended punishment for Raj and Koliwad extended it to hand prison terms to both journalists.
As it turns out, Belagere had written a scathing article against Koliwad and the complaint against him was filed by Koliwad himself when he became chairman of the privileges committee in 2015-16. If the articles published were defamatory in nature, then the concerned legislators have the right to approach the judiciary and seek redress by filing a case. In contrast, under the garb of breach of privilege, gross misuse of special powers has taken place.
The Editors' Guild of India had strongly condemned the Speaker's decision and the Karnataka government rightly distanced itself from the issue by deferring the arrest of the two journalists.But the legislature walks a thin line as there is no law codifying these privileges. It's high time not only to let the journalists go, but also to end discretionary powers that enable politicians to become judge, jury and executioner themselves.