Speaker Gupta refers Punjab police action to privileges committee

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Wednesday referred the Punjab police’s action to the committee of privileges. The action relates to statements made on the floor of the Delhi legislative assembly. The Speaker said a prima facie case of breach of privilege and contempt of the House has been made out.

The Speaker explained that after examining the Punjab police’s reply and Mishra’s complaint, it was clear the police action was connected to privileged Assembly proceedings and deserved scrutiny. Gupta said a prima facie case had been made out.

In an order issued by the Delhi legislative assembly secretariat, the Speaker said the role of the Director General of Police, Punjab, and the Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, in initiating police action connected to assembly proceedings would be examined by the committee of privileges. He observed that matters arising from proceedings of the house fall within the exclusive domain of the legislature and are protected by privilege.

The controversy arose after the Punjab police registered an FIR on the basis of Iqbal Singh’s complaint and publicly claimed that a video clip of the Delhi assembly proceedings had been edited or doctored. The Delhi assembly secretariat subsequently sought an explanation from the Punjab police, pointing out that the Speaker and the house were already seized of the issue and that any complaint concerning assembly proceedings should have been brought to the notice of the Speaker before initiating action.

After seeking extensions, the Director General of Police, Punjab, and the Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, submitted written replies stating that the police had acted as per law and available material.