Madras High Court has made a compelling suggestion to the Tamil Nadu State Government regarding the broadcasting of state legislative assembly proceedings to Ensure Fair and Transparent Coverage. The court’s suggestion of broadcasting the proceedings with a short delay is a practical solution that respects the assembly’s dignity while addressing the need for transparency
In a pivotal development aimed at enhancing transparency in the legislative process, the Madras High Court on January23 has made a compelling suggestion to the Tamil Nadu State Government regarding the broadcasting of state legislative assembly proceedings. The court proposed that these sessions could be telecast with a slight delay, allowing for the expunging of any unparliamentary or objectionable content by the speaker. This innovative approach seeks to balance the need for public access to legislative discussions with the maintenance of decorum within the assembly.
The bench, led by Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy, was deliberating on writ petitions filed by the late Vijaykanth, leader of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, D Jagadheeswaran, State president of Lok Satta Party, and SP Velumani, chief whip of the AIADMK party. These petitions called for the live telecast of the Tamil Nadu Assembly proceedings.
During the hearing, Advocate General PS Raman informed the court that segments like the question hour and call attention motions were already being broadcast. However, he expressed reservations about live telecasting the entire proceedings, citing the potential for unparliamentary statements that are typically expunged by the speaker.
Addressing these concerns, the court highlighted the petitioners’ main grievance: the selective release of speech videos, often excluding those made by opposition members. The judges pointedly remarked,
“Even if you (state) do not want to go live, you can telecast it with a delay of a few minutes so that expunged speeches can be edited before the telecast.”
This statement underscores the court’s commitment to ensuring a fair and comprehensive portrayal of assembly proceedings.
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The court’s suggestion of broadcasting the proceedings with a short delay is a practical solution that respects the assembly’s dignity while addressing the need for transparency. The court also questioned why state legislative proceedings couldn’t be telecast when parliamentary proceedings are broadcast live, noting that unparliamentary remarks by politicians would reflect poorly on them rather than the legislative process.
Previously, the Advocate General had referred to Article 122 of the Constitution, which empowers the speaker to decide which parts of the Legislative Assembly proceedings can be telecast. He also questioned the maintainability of the pleas, arguing that a directive could not be issued to the Speaker. The court clarified that it was exploring the possibility of live telecasting the proceedings with a delay.
The court has requested the Advocate General to obtain further instructions on this matter and adjourned the case to March for additional discussion.
This move by the Madras High Court marks a significant stride towards ensuring greater transparency and public engagement in the legislative process in Tamil Nadu. The consideration of a delayed broadcast of assembly proceedings reflects a commitment to upholding the sanctity of legislative discussions while keeping the public informed and involved in the democratic process.
