Editors appear before Speaker; plead for a relook at jail term

They submit petition to Koliwad seeking review of resolution

Karnataka : Bengaluru : 03/07/2017 : The two editors Ravi Belagere and Anil Raj, facing privilege charges appear before Speaker, following suggestion by the High Court to resolve the issue. Secretariat sources say the Speaker may convene the House for a day to re-examine the arrest order that has drawn flak on 03 July 2017. Photo : Sreenivasa Murthy

Editors of the two Kannada tabloids, who have been sentenced to one-year jail and a fine of ₹10,000 each for breach of privileges by the State Legislative Assembly, appeared before Assembly Speaker K.B. Koliwad on Monday and pleaded for reconsideration of the Assembly resolution.

The High Court of Karnataka had suggested to the counsel representing the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and chairman of its privileges committee to explore a way to “resolve” the controversy “in the interest of the system”.

The editors — Ravi Belagere of

Hi Bangalore and Anil Raj of

Yelahanka Voice — accompanied by their counsel Shankarappa appeared before the Speaker and submitted a petition for reconsidering the matter and reviewing the resolution.

Mr. Shankarappa stated that the alleged breach of privilege (derogatory writings about two MLAs) was not committed within the jurisdiction of the Assembly, and the act had in no way impeded or obstructed legislators from discharging their duties.

Therefore, the alleged act could not be treated as breach of privilege of the members, he argued.

He also said that the two accused were not served the breach of privilege notice personally. Mr. Anil Raj had already tendered an unconditional apology.

Meanwhile, Vishwanath, BJP MLA, has filed a defamation suit against Mr. Anil Raj in the local court, which in effect is “double jeopardy for the petitioners,” the lawyer argued. Mr. Shankarappa appealed to the Speaker to initiate measures for reconsidering the resolution to ensure harmonious relationship between the press and the legislature, the vital pillars of democracy.

Mr. Koliwad, who countered Mr. Shankarappa by quoting from “Practice and Procedure of Parliament” authored by Kaul and Shakdar on the privileges of members of the legislature, was guarded in his response. “I will decide the future course of action after look into all the details.”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already been under pressure from the party high command to resolve the issue amicably. Various media organisations have also condemned the resolution.

Solution likely on July 17

The Legislative Assembly resolution against the two editors is likely to have an amicable solution on July 17, when the State government is likely to convene a session of the Assembly to enable members to cast their votes in the Presidential elections.

Sources in the State secretariat said the Assembly is likely to condone the punishment given to the editors or withdraw the resolution, which awarded one year jail term and a fine of ₹10,000 each. Generally, the government convenes a session of the Assembly to enable members to get travel allowances and enable them to cast their votes.