Arnab Goswami case: SC issues notice to Maharashtra Assembly for breach of privilege motion

The Supreme Court today sought Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s response on journalist Arnab Goswami’s plea challenging the show cause notice for initiation of breach of privilege motion against him for the reportage on actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde said that the court understands the seriousness of the case. The bench said, but this is only a show-cause notice and there is no privilege motion.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing Goswami, said I am on the jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the Legislative Assembly cannot extend beyond the House.

The Chief Justice said that the privilege motion is usually dealt with by the Committee of Privileges and required to be charged by the Committee.

Salve replies that the secretary has sent it and says that the journalist is a critic of the chief minister. A notice was sent against the Shiv Sena in both houses of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly after Goswami proposed a breach of privilege.

The Chief Justice told Salve that the Speaker would have directed the Secretary to do so. He also asked them, where is the Privileges Committee looking into this matter?

Salve submitted that he had put the House debate on record and asked the court if his client had defamed anyone, but how does the House have jurisdiction?

 The Chief Justice said that you can answer the show cause notice. After a brief hearing on the case, the bench issued a notice, to which the reply is due in a week.

By Priya Kumari