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Noted journalist and a nominated Member of Parliament, Cho S Ramaswamy, launched the nation-wide signature campaign of Members of Parliament in Chennai on November 10, 2003, on behalf of the Madras Reporters Guild seeking Codification of Privileges of Parliament and the State legislatures with a view to finding a permanent solution to the issue of arrests of journalists and others on grounds of breach of Privilege.

Speaking to the media shortly after signing the Guild's memorandum, Cho endorsed the stand of the Guild in favour of a permanent solution and said it was high time that the privileges of Parliament and the State legislatures were codified. "The situation prevailing now was tailor-made for misuse of the powers conferred on these bodies. Because the Privileges are not codified, whatever an Assembly or the Parliament considers offensive or unflattering is regarded as a breach of privilege," he said adding that a practical way out would be to bring about an amendment to the Constitution to codify the privileges of the Parliament and the State legislatures.

Cho pointed out that Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, while replying to the debate in the Constituent Assembly on this Article, gave the assurance that "it was only a temporary provision and that necessary laws will be made to specify the privileges. Till now, it has not been done. The Parliament and the state legislatures perhaps fight shy of codifying the privileges because once it is done, the judiciary would be the ultimate forum to decide whether there has been breach of privilege or not. This is exactly why there has been a consistent demand for codification."

The veteran journalst and editor of 'Tughlak' said while it may not be possible to expect all the legislatures in the country to codify the privileges, a practical step would be to bring about an amendment to the Constitution to codify the privileges of the Parliament and the state legislatures.

The President of the Madras Reporters Guild, R Rangaraj, said a National Movement had been launched by the Guild to meet MPs cutting across party lines to obtain their signatures seeking codification of privileges in order to prevent misuse of the provisions of Privileges and to ensure that the principles of fair play and natural justice prevailed.

The Guild would reach out to various political parties in the country to carry out this exercise and to bring about a national consensus on preparation of a draft to bring about an amendment in Parliament for the purpose, he said.

The Guild would hold a National Seminar in Chennai to which Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Sonia Gandhi, Chief Ministers of West Bengal (CPM), Andhra Pradesh (TDP), Uttar Pradesh (SP), Bihar (RJD), besides Chief Ministers of several other states ruled by the BJP and the Congress, concerned Union Ministers and leaders of various political parties in the country and in the State, would be among those invited to prepare the draft resolution on the amendment, Rangaraj said.

The stay order given by the Supreme Court today had given a breather and the opportunity would be utilised to bring about an amendment in the next session of Parliament, with a view to finding a permanent solution, he added."

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