How different things work
Recently, parliamentarians cutting across parties moved breach of
privilege motions in both the Houses of Parliament against some members
of the core team of Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal campaign.
HOW THINGS WORK
Parliamentary Privilege
Recently, parliamentarians cutting across parties moved breach of privilege motions in both the Houses of Parliament against some members of the core team of Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal campaign.
They took exception to the remarks made by the team members against politicians during Hazare's fast at the Ramlila Grounds, terming them "derogatory and defamatory". The move has fuelled debate over the parliamentary privilege. Here's a primer on the subject: What is it: Parliament grants certain rights and immunities to its members, and disregard of any of these is termed a breach of parliamentary privilege and is punishable. The House also reserves the right to punish actions that may not breach any specific privilege but compromise its authority and dignity.
Moving a privilege motion: A breach of privilege, either of a member or of the House or its committee, is brought to the notice of the House by a member in the form of a motion. Lok Sabha's Rule 222 and Rajya Sabha's Rule 187 allow its members to raise a question involving a breach of privilege with the consent of the Speaker or the Chairperson, respectively. A notice to that effect has to be given in writing to the Secretary-General. A member can raise only one question relating to privilege in a sitting.
Hearing: The Speaker or the Chairperson can allow the privilege motion and let the member concerned make a statement, or refer it to the Committee of Privileges. The panel's report may be briefly debated in the House, after which the Speaker may pass final orders or direct the report to be tabled before the House. It must be passed through a unanimous resolution.
JUST WONDERING
Power games
The bigger the project, the greater the chances of delay and controversy dogging it. Take the case of the 960 megawatt Thopan-Powari-Jangi hydro-power project in Himachal Pradesh. Ever since it was awarded to Dutch firm Brakel in December 2006 by the then Congress government, the project has run into one controversy after another. First, the Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, then in opposition, sought a federal inquiry into the contract. On coming to power, the party issued show-cause notices to Brakel questioning its ability to execute the Rs 6,000 crore project. In November 2008, as soon as Brakel was finally allowed to start work, Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure challenged the project award in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, accusing Brakel of submitting false documents. The court declared the project illegal and ordered its cancellation, causing the state government annual losses of Rs 100 crore in royalty and Rs 250 crore worth of free power. Last year it was rewarded to Brakel, and the new date for its completion is 2017.
QUIRKY
Straight vs Queer
A 10-pm deadline for boys and girls visiting one another's hostels at IIT Bombay has the "straights" grunting in protest. They say the rule discriminates against heterosexuals since gays - belonging as they do to the same gender - face no such bar. Their anger also stems from the recent launch of a support group for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) on the campus. The straights have created a page, straight@IITB, on a social networking site to vent their feelings. Nearly 100 boys and girls have signed up.
SNOOT CORNER
Pinned to power
A tie denotes power, but it is really the tie clip or pin that gives the impression of being in control. Tie clips with chains were popular until the early 20th century; the chains have gone but tie pins have stuck around. They keep the tie secure and lend the wearer a smart look. A silver and gold tie pin or clip can add tonnes to one's personality. Tie pins are made of all kinds of light metals and often have decorative patterns, studded stones or other commemorative tokens on them.
Parliamentary Privilege
Recently, parliamentarians cutting across parties moved breach of privilege motions in both the Houses of Parliament against some members of the core team of Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal campaign.
They took exception to the remarks made by the team members against politicians during Hazare's fast at the Ramlila Grounds, terming them "derogatory and defamatory". The move has fuelled debate over the parliamentary privilege. Here's a primer on the subject: What is it: Parliament grants certain rights and immunities to its members, and disregard of any of these is termed a breach of parliamentary privilege and is punishable. The House also reserves the right to punish actions that may not breach any specific privilege but compromise its authority and dignity.
Moving a privilege motion: A breach of privilege, either of a member or of the House or its committee, is brought to the notice of the House by a member in the form of a motion. Lok Sabha's Rule 222 and Rajya Sabha's Rule 187 allow its members to raise a question involving a breach of privilege with the consent of the Speaker or the Chairperson, respectively. A notice to that effect has to be given in writing to the Secretary-General. A member can raise only one question relating to privilege in a sitting.
Hearing: The Speaker or the Chairperson can allow the privilege motion and let the member concerned make a statement, or refer it to the Committee of Privileges. The panel's report may be briefly debated in the House, after which the Speaker may pass final orders or direct the report to be tabled before the House. It must be passed through a unanimous resolution.
JUST WONDERING
Power games
The bigger the project, the greater the chances of delay and controversy dogging it. Take the case of the 960 megawatt Thopan-Powari-Jangi hydro-power project in Himachal Pradesh. Ever since it was awarded to Dutch firm Brakel in December 2006 by the then Congress government, the project has run into one controversy after another. First, the Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, then in opposition, sought a federal inquiry into the contract. On coming to power, the party issued show-cause notices to Brakel questioning its ability to execute the Rs 6,000 crore project. In November 2008, as soon as Brakel was finally allowed to start work, Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure challenged the project award in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, accusing Brakel of submitting false documents. The court declared the project illegal and ordered its cancellation, causing the state government annual losses of Rs 100 crore in royalty and Rs 250 crore worth of free power. Last year it was rewarded to Brakel, and the new date for its completion is 2017.
QUIRKY
Straight vs Queer
A 10-pm deadline for boys and girls visiting one another's hostels at IIT Bombay has the "straights" grunting in protest. They say the rule discriminates against heterosexuals since gays - belonging as they do to the same gender - face no such bar. Their anger also stems from the recent launch of a support group for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) on the campus. The straights have created a page, straight@IITB, on a social networking site to vent their feelings. Nearly 100 boys and girls have signed up.
SNOOT CORNER
Pinned to power
A tie denotes power, but it is really the tie clip or pin that gives the impression of being in control. Tie clips with chains were popular until the early 20th century; the chains have gone but tie pins have stuck around. They keep the tie secure and lend the wearer a smart look. A silver and gold tie pin or clip can add tonnes to one's personality. Tie pins are made of all kinds of light metals and often have decorative patterns, studded stones or other commemorative tokens on them.
