This chapter focuses on the issues of parliamentary privileges and press leaks in relation to the joint parliamentary committee's (JPC) deliberations on the banks scam. Though JPC chairman Ram Niwas Mirdha reassured the press and the public that they would not be kept in the dark about the proceedings, he still has the last say and is the judge on what the people are entitled to know. The chapter suggests that Mirdha should be reminded that neither the press nor the people can compromise on their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression and their right to know. In addition, it is...

This chapter focuses on the issues of parliamentary privileges and press leaks in relation to the joint parliamentary committee's (JPC) deliberations on the banks scam. Though JPC chairman Ram Niwas Mirdha reassured the press and the public that they would not be kept in the dark about the proceedings, he still has the last say and is the judge on what the people are entitled to know. The chapter suggests that Mirdha should be reminded that neither the press nor the people can compromise on their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression and their right to know. In addition, it is possible that a member of the JPC who is baulked in his attempts to unravel the truth will be provoked to alert the press to the fact and the press for its part will be obliged to publish that information.