The UP assembly adopted a resolution on Tuesday, urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision of staying the proceedings against TV news channel indicted by a joint committee for airing a unsubstantiated clip against Urban Development minister Azam Khan in 2013. The Apex Court had stayed the proceedings by the UP Assembly against the TV channel on March 4.
Affirming respect for the Apex court, the resolution said, “Staying of the proceedings of the House is not in conformity with the law and the House resolves to request the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision of March 4, 2016 (Supriya Prasad Vs UP and others ) of staying proceedings of the House. The order be amended and vacated so that the House could proceed and take action as per recommendations of the joint committee.’’
The resolution also said, “Constitutionally, the UP Assembly has exclusive jurisdiction in conducting its proceedings. While the House respects the Supreme court, but the latter’s order staying the proceedings does not appears to be constitutionally valid.’’
It further mentioned, “As per scheme of things in the Constitution, the role and the jurisdiction of the Judiciary and the legislature have been clearly defined and there is no conflict. The Assembly cannot be prevented from the constitutional freedom of conducting its proceedings and any restriction on the sovereignty of the House is not as per the constitution. The Assembly has exclusive jurisdiction in exercising its powers, privileges and immunities.’’
The BJP however distanced itself from the adoption of the resolution. BJP leader Suresh Khanna said, “The BJP supports the legality of resolution that the Assembly has exclusive jurisdiction and no other organ of the state should interfere in its right to conduct its proeedings’’. He however added that the BJP disassociated itself from the context under which this resolution has been adopted. The BJP had earlier withdrawn its members from the joint house committee and also distanced itself from the report of the committee headed by SP MlA Satish Nigam.
Earlier on February 26, the Assembly had issued summons to TV channel to appear before it on March 1 and come upo with their side of the story but the date was extended to March 4. On the same day, the Supreme Court stayed the proceedings by the Assembly against the channel. The sting operation was aired soon after communal riots took place in Muzaffarnagar and it indicted minister Azam Khan for instigating the rioteers and pressuring the police to release the guilty arrested for murder and riots.