187. Question of privilege

Subject to the provisions of these rules, a member may, with the consent of the Chairman, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the Council or of a Committee thereof.

188. Notice

A member wishing to raise a question of privilege shall give notice in writing to the Secretary-General, before the commencement of the sifting on the day the question is proposed to be raised. If the question proposed to be raised is based on a document, the notice shall be accompanied by the document.

189. Conditions of admissibility

The right to raise a question of privilege shall be governed by the following conditions, namely:-

(ii) the matter requires the intervention of the Council.

190. Mode of raising a question of privilege

(1) The Chairman, if he gives consent under rule 187 and holds that the matter proposed to be discussed is in order, shall, after the questions and before the list of business is entered upon, call the member concerned, who shall rise in his place and. while asking for leave to raise the question of privilege make a short statement relevant thereto:

Provided that where the Chairman has refused his consent under rule 187 or is of opinion that the matter proposed to be discussed is not in order, he may, if he thinks it necessary, read the notice of question of privilege and state that he refuses consent or holds that the notice of question of privilege is not in order:

Provided further that the Chairman may, if he is satisfied about the urgency of the matter, allow a question of privilege to be raised at any time during the course of a sitting after the disposal of questions,

(2) If objection to leave being granted is taken, the Chairman shall request those members, who are in favour of leave being granted to rise in their places and if not less than twenty-five members rise accordingly, the Chairman shall intimate that leave is granted. If less than twenty-five members rise the Chairman shall inform the member that he has not the leave of the Council.

191. Reference to Committee of Privileges

If leave under rule 190 is granted, the Council may consider the question and come to a decision or refer it to the Committee of Privileges on a motion made either by the member who has raised the question of privilege or by any other member.

192. Constitution of Committee of Privileges

(1) The Chairman shall, from time to time, nominate a Committee of Privileges consisting of ten members.

(2) The Committee nominated under sub-rule (1) shall hold office until a new Committee is nominated.

(3) Casual vacancies in the Committee shall be filled by the Chairman.

193. Chairman of Committee

(1) The Chairman of the Committee shall be appointed by the Chairman from amongst the members of the Committee.

(2) If the Chairman of the Committee is for any reason unable to act, the Chairman may similarly appoint another Chairman of the Committee in his place.

(3) If the Chairman of the Committee is absent from any meeting, the Committee shall choose another member to act as Chairman of the Committee for that meeting.

194. Quorum

The quorum of the Committee shall be five.

195. Examination of the Question

(1) The Committee shall examine every question referred to it and determine with reference to the facts of each case whether a breach of privilege is involved and, if so, the nature of the breach, the circumstances leading to it and make such recommendations as it may deem fit.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (1) of this rule, the report may also state the procedure to be followed by the Council in giving effect to the recommendations made by the Committee:

196. Power to take evidence or call for papers records or documents

(1) The Committee of Privileges shall have power to require the attendance of persons or the production of papers or records, if such a course is considered necessary for the discharge of its duties:

Provided that if any question arises whether the evidence of a person or the production of a document is relevant for the purposes of the Committee, the question shall be referred to the Chairman, whose decision shall be final:

Provided further that Government may decline to produce a document on the ground that its disclosure would be prejudicial-to the safety or interest of the State.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this rule, a witness may be summoned by an order signed by the Secretary General, and shall produce such documents as are required for the use of the Committee.

(3) It shall be in the discretion of the Committee to treat any evidence tendered before it as secret or confidential.

197. Sittings of Committee

(1) As soon as may be, after a question of privilege has been referred to the Committee of Privileges, the Committee shall meet from time to time and shall make a report within the time fixed by the Council:

Provided that where the Council has not fixed any time for the presentation of the report, the report shall be presented within one month (of the date on which reference to the Committee was made:

Provided further that the Council may at any time, on a motion being made, direct that the time for the presentation of the report by the Committee be extended, to a date specified in the motion.

2. Reports may be either preliminary or final.

(3) The report shall be signed by the Chairman of the Committee on behalf of the Committee:

Provided that in case the Chairman of the Committee is absent or is not readily available, the Committee shall choose any other member to sign the report on behalf of the Committee.

198. Presentation of report

The report of the Committee of Privileges shall be presented to the Council by the Chairman of the Committee or in his absence by any member of the Committee.

199. Motion for consideration or report

As soon as may be, after the report has been presented, a motion in the name of the Chairman of the Committee or any member of the Committee may be put down that the report be taken into consideration.

200. Amendments to motion for consideration of report

Any member may give notice of amendment to the motion for consideration of the report referred to in rule 199 in such form as may be considered appropriate by the Chairman:

Provided that an amendment may be moved that the question be re- committed to the Committee either without limitation or with reference to any particular matter.

201. Motion after consideration of report

After the motion for consideration of the report has been carried, the Chairman or any member of the Committee or any other member, as the case may be, may move that the Council agrees, or disagrees, or agrees with amendments, with the recommendations contained in the report.

202. Regulation of procedure

The Chairman may issue such directions as he may consider necessary for regulating the procedure in connection with all matters connected with the consideration of the question of privilege either in the Committee or in the Council.

203. Power of Chairman to refer a question of privilege to Committee

Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, the Chairman may refer any question of privilege to the Committee of Privileges for examination, investigation and report.