Breach of Parliamentary Privileges | 06 Feb 2025

Formal notices of breach of parliamentary privilege were filed against some MPs following their comment on the President address.

Breach of Parliamentary Privilege: A breach of privilege occurs when someone disregards or attacks the privileges, rights, or immunities of a member or the House itself.
About Parliamentary Privilege: Parliamentary privileges and immunities are special rights granted to MPs and MLAs to ensure their effective functioning without external interference.
Sources:
- Constitution i..e, Article 105, Article 122, Article 194, and Article 212.
- Parliamentary Conventions (based on British parliamentary practices as of 1947).
- Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)
- Judicial Interpretations (Supreme Court and High Court rulings)
- Statutory Laws (laws enacted by Parliament) (Currently, there is no act of the Parliament defining parliamentary privileges).
Parliamentary Privilege Includes:
- Individual Privileges: Freedom of Speech, Immunity from Legal Proceedings, Freedom from Arrest etc.
- Collective Privileges: Secret Sittings, Inquiry Powers, Judicial Immunity etc.
Under Article 87, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament at the start of the first session after each general election and at the commencement of the first session of each year.