We have penned down our views on the issues raised by the petitioners, but in view of the elaborate arguments and length of the [179] judgment, we consider it appropriate to summarise the ratio/directions in the following terms: I. There is no dispute about the right of the Assembly or the Committee to proceed on grounds of breach of privilege per se. II. The power to compel attendance by initiating privilege proceedings is an essential power. III. Members and non-Members (like the petitioners) can equally be directed to appear before the Committee and depose on oath. IV. In the given facts of the case, the issue of privileges is premature. Having said that, the insertion of para 4(vii) of the Terms of Reference taken along with the press conference of the Chairman of the Committee could legitimately give rise to apprehensions in the mind of the petitioners on account of which a caveat has been made. V. Canvassing a clash between privilege powers and certain fundamental rights is also preemptory in the present case. VI. In any case, the larger issue of privileges vis-a-vis the right of free speech, silence, and privacy in the context of Part III of the Constitution is still at large in view of the reference to the larger Bench in N. Ravi.149 149 Supra note 46. [180] VII. The Assembly admittedly does not have any power to legislate on aspects of law and order and police in view of Entries 1 and 2 of List II in the Seventh Schedule inter alia being excluded. Further, regulation of intermediaries is also subject matter covered by the I.T. Act. VIII. The Assembly does not only perform the function of legislating; there are many other aspects of governance which can form part of the essential functions of the Legislative Assembly and consequently the Committee. In the larger context, the concept of peace and harmony goes much beyond law and order and police, more so in view of onthe-ground governance being in the hands of the Delhi Government. IX. Para 4(vii) of the Terms of Reference does not survive for any opinion of the Committee. It will not be permissible for the Committee to encroach upon any aspects strictly within the domain of Entries 1 and 2 of List II of the Seventh Schedule. As such, any representative of the petitioners would have the right to not answer questions directly covered by these two fields. [181] 229. That brings us to the end of this saga. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed, subject to terms aforesaid.
We have penned down our views on the issues raised by the petitioners, but in view of the elaborate arguments and length of the [179] judgment, we consider it appropriate to summarise the ratio/directions in the following terms: I. There is no dispute about the right of the Assembly or the Committee to proceed on grounds of breach of privilege per se. II. The power to compel attendance by initiating privilege proceedings is an essential power. III. Members and non-Members (like the petitioners) can equally be directed to appear before the Committee and depose on oath. IV. In the given facts of the case, the issue of privileges is premature. Having said that, the insertion of para 4(vii) of the Terms of Reference taken along with the press conference of the Chairman of the Committee could legitimately give rise to apprehensions in the mind of the petitioners on account of which a caveat has been made. V. Canvassing a clash between privilege powers and certain fundamental rights is also preemptory in the present case. VI. In any case, the larger issue of privileges vis-a-vis the right of free speech, silence, and privacy in the context of Part III of the Constitution is still at large in view of the reference to the larger Bench in N. Ravi.149 149 Supra note 46. [180] VII. The Assembly admittedly does not have any power to legislate on aspects of law and order and police in view of Entries 1 and 2 of List II in the Seventh Schedule inter alia being excluded. Further, regulation of intermediaries is also subject matter covered by the I.T. Act. VIII. The Assembly does not only perform the function of legislating; there are many other aspects of governance which can form part of the essential functions of the Legislative Assembly and consequently the Committee. In the larger context, the concept of peace and harmony goes much beyond law and order and police, more so in view of onthe-ground governance being in the hands of the Delhi Government. IX. Para 4(vii) of the Terms of Reference does not survive for any opinion of the Committee. It will not be permissible for the Committee to encroach upon any aspects strictly within the domain of Entries 1 and 2 of List II of the Seventh Schedule. As such, any representative of the petitioners would have the right to not answer questions directly covered by these two fields. [181] 229. That brings us to the end of this saga. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed, subject to terms aforesaid.
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