QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGE
Consent of Speaker
222. A member may, with the consent of the Speaker, raise a question
involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or of
a Committee thereof.
Notice of question of privilege
223. A member wishing to raise a question of privilege shall give notice
in writing to the Secretary-General *1[by
10.00 hours]on the day the question is proposed to be raised. If the question
raised is based on a document, the notice shall be accompanied by the document.
*2[Provided that notices received after
10.00 hours shall be deemed to have been received at 10.00 hours on the
next day on which the House sits.]
Admissibility of questions of privilege
224. The right to raise a question of privilege shall be governed by
the following conditions, namely:-
(i) not more than one question shall be raised at the same sitting;
(ii) the question shall be restricted to a specific matter of recent
occurrence; and
(iii) the matter requires the intervention of the House.
Mode of raising questions of privilege
225. (1) The Speaker, if he gives consent under rule 222 and holds that
the matter proposed to be discussed is in order, shall call the member
concerned, who shall rise in his place and, while asking for leave to raise
the question of privilege, make a short statement relevant thereto:
Provided that where the Speaker has refused his consent under rule 222
or is of opinion that the matter proposed to be discussed is not in order,
he may, if he thinks it necessary, read the notice of question of privilege
and state that he refuses consent or holds that the notice of question
of privilege is not in order: Provided further that the Speaker may, if
he is satisfied about the urgency of the matter, allow a question of privilege
to be raised at any time during the course of a sitting after the disposal
of questions.
(2) If objection to leave being granted is taken, the Speaker shall
request those members who are in favour of leave being granted to rise
in their places, and if not less than twenty-five members rise accordingly,
the Speaker shall declare that leave is granted. If less than twenty-five
members rise, the Speaker shall inform the member that he has not the leave
of the House.
Questions of privilege to be considered by House or Committee
226. If leave under rule 225 is granted, the House may consider the
question and come to a decision or refer it to a Committee of Privileges
on a motion made either by the member who has raised the question of privilege
or by any other member.
Reference of questions of privilege to Committee by Speaker
227. Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, the Speaker
may refer any question of privilege to the Committee of Privileges for
examination, investigation or report.
Power of Speaker to give directions
228. The Speaker may issue such directions as may be necessary for regulating
the procedure in connection with all matters connected with the consideration
of the question of privilege either in the Committee of Privileges or in
the House.
INTIMATION TO SPEAKER REGARDING ARREST, DETENTION ETC. AND RELEASE OF
MEMBER
Intimation regarding arrest, detention etc. of member
229. When a member is arrested on a criminal charge or for a criminal
offence or is sentenced to imprisonment by a court or is detained under
an executive order, the committing judge, magistrate or executive authority,
as the case may be, shall immediately intimate such fact to the Speaker
indicating the reasons for the arrest, detention or conviction, as the
case may be, as also the place of detention or imprisonment of the member
in the appropriate form set out in the Third Schedule.
Intimation regarding release of member
230. When a member is arrested and after conviction released on bail
pending an appeal or otherwise released, such fact shall also be intimated
to the Speaker by the authority concerned in the appropriate form set out
in the Third Schedule.
Treatment of communications regarding arrest , detention, release
etc.
231. As soon as may be, the Speaker shall, after he has received a communication
referred to in rule 229 or rule 230, read it out in the House if in session,
or if the House is not in session, direct that it may be published in the
Bulletin for the information of the members:
Provided that if the intimation of the release of a member either on
bail or by discharge on appeal is received before the House has been informed
of the original arrest, the fact of his arrest, or his subsequent release
or discharge may not be intimated to the House by the Speaker.
PROCEDURE REGARDING ARREST AND SERVICE OF LEGAL PROCESS WITHIN PRECINCTS
OF THE HOUSE
Arrest within precincts of House
232. No arrest shall be made within the precincts of the House without
obtaining the permission of the Speaker.
Service of legal process
233. A legal process, civil or criminal, shall not be served within
the precincts of the House without obtaining the permission of Speaker.
[For rules relating to Committee of Privileges, see Chapter XXVI of
these rules.]
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[*1] Sub. by
L.S. Bn. (II) dated 9-5-1989, par2930.
[*2] Added ibid.