Deposing before the Privileges Committee on the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan argued on Wednesday that dissemination of CAG reports or its contents did not amount to breach of privilege.
According to sources, Bhushan argued that MPs cannot muzzle the right of people to know truth by issuing notices. He said public disclosure of the CAG report on “loot by Reliance” was essential in the public interest and breach of privilege notice was misconceived in law. Bhushan was summoned by the Committee headed by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson PJ Kurien on the allegations of leaking the CAG Report on certain violations made by by Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries limited. The panel was acting on the complaint filed by Janata dal (United) MP KC Tyagi.
Countering the questions posed by MPs of the panel, Bhushan said motion of parliamentary privileges has a colonial origin from British parliament which was regarded as sovereign and in India. According to sources, Bhushan deposition questioned the notice of privilege and said this move is against the spirit of people’s right to information.
The noted lawyer also pointed out the “loot of” natural gas by Reliance in KG basin and citied several Supreme Court judgments and Central Information Commission rulings favouring people’s right to know and disseminate information.