Collective Privileges

The privileges belonging to each House of Parliament collectively are:

1. It has the right to publish its reports, debates and proceedings and also the right to prohibit others from publishing the same. The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 restored the freedom of the press to publish true reports of parliamentary proceedings without prior permission of the House. But this is not applicable in the case of a secret sitting of the House.

2. It can exclude strangers from its proceedings and hold secret sittings to discuss some important matters.

3. It can make rules to regulate its own procedure and the conduct of its business and to adjudicate upon such matters.

4. It can punish members as well as outsiders for breach of its privileges or its contempt by reprimand, admonition or imprisonment (also suspension or expulsion, in case of members).25

5. It has the right to receive immediate information of the arrest, detention, conviction, imprisonment and release of a member.

6. It can institute inquiries and order the attendance of witnesses and send for relevant papers and records.

7. The courts are prohibited to inquire into the proceedings of a House or its committees.

8. No person (either a member or outsider) can be arrested, and no legal process (civil or criminal) can be served within the precincts of the House without the permission of the presiding officer.