Rajya Sabha’s Privileges Committee on Wednesday summoned noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan for “leaking” the CAG Report on the violations by Mukesh Ambani-headed Reliance Industries limited in KG Basin. The Committee was acting on the complaint filed by JD(U) MP KC Tyagi and Bhushan was summoned to appear on February 10. Reacting to the notice, Bhushan said the RS Committee’s move lack ignorance of fundamental rights of citizens.
“I am to inform that the Committee of Privileges of Rajya Sabha is presently seized of a matter of breach of privilege of the House arising out of the alleged premature disclosure of a report of the CAG pertaining to allocation of D6 Block in KG Basin to the Reliance Group in the press before the same was laid on the Table of the House. A copy of the notice dated July 1, 2014 given by KC Tyagi MP in the matter is enclosed along with enclosures, for your ready reference,” said the notice issued to Bhushan.
Terming the move of the RS Committee as “total ignorance of fundamental rights of citizens”, Bhushan said the Parliamentary panel lacked understanding of what constitutes a breach of privilege.
“Citizens of the country have a right to know the loot of natural resources, especially when disclosed by the CAG audits. I have been not only disclosing the CAG reports to the people as and when I get them but also using them in the courts in PIls like in 2G scam or coal scam cases. I am thus doing my duty to the citizens and fulfilling their right to information. The CAG report on KG Basin in question now forms part of record of Supreme Court in the PIl filed by me against the gas loot committed by Reliance,” said Bhushan.
“According to Supreme Court judgments, Privileges of Parliament are only those privileges without which the Parliament cannot function. It is absurd to suggest that the disclosure of a CAG report to be tabled in Parliament can in any manner prevent or impede the functioning of Parliament. Perhaps the time has come to educate MPs about the notion of breach of privilege,” he added.