(1973)

Point of privilege

Delay in intimation of arrest and release of a member

On 30 August, 1973, Sarvashri Veerendra Patil, Loknath Mishra and Chandra Shekhar, members, referred¹ to the arrest of Shri Mahavir Tyagi, another member that day in Delhi at 10-30 hours and enquired whether intimation thereof had been received by the Chair. The Deputy Chairman (Shri Godey Murahari) informed the House that no such intimation had been received till then.

2. The Minister for Home Affairs (Shri Uma Shankar Dixit), then stated :-

"......there was no disrespect meant to the House. I can only assure you that I have taekn note of what has been said and the best that can be done will be done."

3. The Deputy Chairman thereupon observed,² as follows : --

"Normally it takes some time for the Magistrate or whoever it is, to prepare the warrant and other documents and then prepare the statement to be sent to the Parliament. Even allowing an hour or so for that. I think the information should have reached us by now. The arrest was made at 10-30 A.M. I would expect that hereafter the officials, especially in the Capital, would not lose more than an hour to intimate the Parliament."

4. Later in the day, the Deputy Chairman informed³ the House about the intimations received by him regarding the arrest and release of Shri Mahavir Tyagi on that day. He also informed the House that the information regarding the arrest of Shri Tyagi was sent by the authorities at the residence of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha. That was why the House could not be informed of it earlier.

5. The Minister for Home Affairs also made a statement in the House on the subject.

The matter was thereafter closed.

1. R.S. Deb., dt. 30-8-1973.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.