Parliamentary privileges and the press

THE SUBJECT of parliamentary privileges and the freedom of press has been and is one of great importance. It is primarily for that reason that the Press Council of India in collaboration with the Indian Law Institute had this special study prepared by Professor M.P. Jain. The study contains a fairly elaborate discussion of the concept of the freedom of press, ambit and scope of legislative privileges and the extent to which these privileges affect the freedom of press. The other allied questions relating to judicial decisions on privilege matters, the penalties and punish ments imposed for the breach of privilege have also been dealt with at length.

The present Press Council examined the study in depth. It had also the benefit of the views of the First Press Commission and the Second Press Commission. After due deliberations, the council made specific recommendations which are contained in the Appendix for being adopted by Parliament and the state legislatures for the purposes of codification or effective implementation. All this has been done with a view to promot ing the freedom of press while balancing it with the necessity of maintenance of the dignity of Parliament and the state legislatures and off their members, while discharging their respective duties and functions.