Legislative privilege versus free speech: SC may not hear on merits after TN Assembly says resolution was withdrawn
The Indian Supreme Court is unlikely to rule on the merits of a 2003 case regarding legislative privilege and free speech. The Tamil Nadu Assembly has withdrawn the original resolution, leading the court to consider the matter an academic exercise.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between legislative immunity and constitutional free speech rights, even when the specific case becomes moot.
A seven-judge Constitution Bench may not commence hearing on October 6 questions touching upon whether legislative privilege can stifle free speec h, arising out of a 2003 Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution to arrest editors of The Hindu for an editorial criticising then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
The Bench may convene on Tuesday (October 6, 2026), as scheduled, for the sake of formality, but would not proceed to hear the reference on merits.
The development came after senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, made an oral mentioning before a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant that the 2003 resolution was withdrawn the following year.
Mr. Ramachandran said the order of reference to the Constitution Bench does not reflect this particular fact about yhe wothdrawal of the resolution.
“It is not noticed [in the court’s order of reference in August],” Mr. Ramachandran submitted.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in