'No breach of privilege in Sakshi case'

NEW DELHI, DEC. 15. The Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee today ruled that there was no contempt of Parliament or breach of privilege with respect to the member, Mr. Sakshi Maharaj, due to the behaviour of the Etah District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police on August 7 this year, in connection with a rape case filed against him.

Declining to take cognisance of the contempt notice filed by Mr. Maharaj, the committee said the allegation did not relate to him in his capacity as Member of Parliament. ``In matters not concerned with the House, even though the happening of such things is unfortunate, the remedy is at the official level.

``The privileges enjoyed by a member are available only for discharge of parliamentary duties. In other matters he is to abide by the law of the land,'' the committee said in its report.

`Ensure careful treatment of representatives'

The committee asked the Government to issue clear guidelines to the law-enforcement agencies to ensure that public representatives were treated with dignity and the utmost care.

``The Government should make clear these guidelines to law- enforcement authorities so that all people, including public representatives, get due respect and are treated with the utmost care,'' it said while dismissing a breach of privilege notice filed by the former AIADMK member, Mr. S. Muthu Mani.

According to the member, the CRPF personnel posted at the Raj Bhavan, Chennai, had roughed him up and denied him entry to meet the Governor and submit a party memorandum on April 25, 1997, despite a prior appointment.

In view of the apology tendered by the CRPF Director-General and the fact that the member had gone to Raj Bhavan as a party member, his complaint could not be upheld, the committee ruled.

- PTI

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