In the Tamil Nadu state assembly, DMK legislator TRB Rajaa on Wednesday raised a question, on whether there was a breach of privilege when a guest accompanying Governor RN Ravi recorded the proceedings of the House in his mobile phone. Speaker M Appavu immediately referred the matter to the privilege committee.
On January 9, when the governor was there in the house to make his customary address of the year, a guest of RN Ravi recorded the proceedings of the house in his mobile from the visitors gallery. Rajaa raised a question, after the question hour.
"I have provided notice on the matter as it involved a breach of privilege of the House. I urge the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges committee," Rajaa said. He said that mobile phones are not allowed inside the House and that recording the proceedings was against the rules.
Earlier, Speaker Appavu, while making his opening remarks on the debate on the motion of thanks to the governor address, said "the governor skipping portions of the prepared text and adding his own remarks created an extraordinary situation in the Assembly."
He said the governor had earlier given approval to the text prepared and sent by the state government . The Speaker expressed his appreciations for the chief minister moving the resolution to take on record only the transcript of the speech circulated among the members.
"It wasn’t the government which created an extraordinary situation. It was created due to the Governor’s speech. It is only because of the resolution introduced by the Chief Minister, the dignity of the House was protected. It is not just about this House, the resolution has defined the rights of Governors and sets an example for other states," Appavu said.
