** * SCIC is understood to have stood by his stand
“Commission has no power to interpret matters of privilege” * ------------------------------ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Committee on Privileges and Ethics of the Assembly heard State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) Palat Mohandas and State Information Commissioner (SIC) P.N. Vijayakumar on charges of breach of privileges of the House against the Commission on Tuesday. After hearing them, the Committee adjourned to May 6 when it would decide on further course of action on the privilege issue. The Chief Information Commissioner said after the hearing that he had explained his position in the matter. The Committee members sought some clarifications and that were given. The issue arose over the Commission's order for release of a copy of video recording of the proceedings, pertaining to a speech of member T.M. Jacob in the House during a debate on a no-confidence motion in 2005, to an applicant under the Right to Information Act. The State Information Officer of the Assembly held that the material was privileged and hence could not be released to the applicant. When the Commission sought action against the Information Officer, Speaker K. Radhakrishnan referred the matter to the Committee. The Chief Information Commissioner is understood to have stood by his stand that there was nothing improper in the Commission's order. The Information Officer had already given the transcript of the proceedings to the applicant. He saw no impropriety in ordering the release of the same in another form. If there were any errors of judgment or fact in the order of the Commission, the matter could be appealed against under the provisions of the law. He admitted that the commission had no authority to interpret matters of privilege of the House. The commission held the House in esteem. The Committee would now be scrutinising the testimony before deciding further action. Anilkumar BVN
