Lok Sabha Committee of Privileges | 06 Mar 2026

Source: TH 

Lok Sabha Speaker has officially reconstituted the Committee of Privileges, a crucial parliamentary panel responsible for safeguarding the rights and immunities of the House and its members. 

• Parliamentary Privileges: It refers to the special rights, immunities, and powers enjoyed by Parliament as an institution and by Members of Parliament (MPs) individually.  
  • These privileges ensure that legislators can perform their constitutional duties freely, effectively, and without external interference. 
  • Article 105 of the Constitution of India provides privileges to Parliament and its members, while Article 194 of the Constitution of India provides similar privileges to state legislatures. 
• Breach of Privilege: A breach of privilege occurs when any act violates the rights, privileges, or immunities of Parliament or its members. 
• Committee of Privileges: It is a Standing Committee of Parliament that examines cases involving breach of parliamentary privilege. 
  • Composition: 
    • Lok Sabha Committee: 15 members nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. 
    • Rajya Sabha Committee: 10 members nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. 
  • Functions: Examines cases related to breach of privileges of the House and its members. Investigate the matter by calling witnesses and examining documents. 
    • Determines whether a breach of privilege or contempt of the House has occurred.   
    • The Committee of Privileges submits its report to the House, which may accept, reject, or modify its recommendations.  
    • However, most privilege notices are usually rejected, with punitive action taken only in a few cases. 
  • Defection Matters: Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India and the Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985, the Speaker may refer petitions related to disqualification of MPs on grounds of defection to the committee for preliminary inquiry before taking a final decision. 
• Significance: The Committee of Privileges protects the independence and dignity of Parliament and ensures accountability for actions that obstruct parliamentary functioning. 
• It helps maintain discipline and integrity in legislative proceedings.