The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) not to precipitate till January 30 the criminal case registered against C.T. Ravi, BJP MLC, on the allegation of using a derogatory word against Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council at Suvarna Soudha at Belagavi in December last year.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on a petition filed by Mr. Ravi, who is a member of the Council. Mr. Ravi had contended that the police have no jurisdiction over the affairs that occurs inside the Houses of the Legislature.
The interim order would be in operation till the court decides the issue on whether Chairman of the Council has the exclusive jurisdiction to deal with the matters that occur inside the Council, irrespective of whether the House was in session or not.
Senior advocate C.V. Nagesh, appearing for Mr. Ravi, pointed out that the Council Chairman had taken up the issue of use of derogatory words inside the House and closed the proceedings.
Referring to the apex court’s judgment in the case of Sita Soren vs Union of India, Mr. Nagesh said what transpires within the Houses of the Legislature comes under exclusive jurisdiction as it comes under the privileges of the respective Houses of the Legislature. The words spoken by the legislators inside the Council cannot be a subject matter of investigation by the police as it is a matter of privileges of the legislators that has to be dealt by the Chairman of the House, Mr. Nagesh said, while relying on the apex court’s verdict.
However, State Public Prosecutor (SPP) B.A. Belliyappa said that Mr. Ravi had used the derogatory word after the proceedings of the House was adjourned. As the House was not in session when the remarks were made, the matter does not fall under the purview of privileges of legislators. Any crime occurring inside the House would be a matter of investigation by the jurisdictional police, the SPP contended.
Stating that the legal issue of jurisdiction requires to be adjudicated, the court adjourned further hearing till January 30.
Published - January 23, 2025 09:01 pm IST
