Privilege charges challenged

CHENNAI: A Kamaraj, associate editor of Nakkheeran Tamil magazine, has moved the Madras High Court with writ pleas challenging the action of the Assembly Speaker in initiating breach of privilege against him for two articles against Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the magazine’s edition dated January 7 last.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice S Rajeswaran on February 7 last, the Government Pleader took notice and the judge posted it for reply by the Advocate-General on February 15.

The publication of an interview given by DMK MLA and party treasurer MK Stalin against the Chief Minister  and the article on her food habits amounted to breach of privilege of the Assembly, the communication from the Speaker has charged.

Advocate PT Perumal contended that Kamaraj was only the associate editor of the magazine and he could not be held responsible for the publications. The selection of matters for publication was done only by the editor.

As per Section 7 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, the person whose name was given as editor in the declaration column published in every issue of the magazine alone should be held responsible for the publication. That was the legal presumption contemplated in the Section. Hence, Kamaraj could not be proceeded against, Perumal argued.