Probe committee for relook at legislators’ use of privilege motion

While the state-appointed panel is unlikely to recommend punishment, it is not keen on showing leniency in the one-year suspension of the five MLAs allegedly involved in the attack on police sub-inspector Sachin Suryavanshi inside the Vidhan Bhavan premises.

The seven-member panel, which is headed by 10-term MLA Ganpatrao Deshmukh, has arrived at a conclusion that the legislators should follow a code of conduct in their public life and not resort to the unwarranted protection of the privilege motion offered to them as the member of the legislature, sources said.

The panel has recorded statements of 17 witnesses directly or indirectly related to the incident, which took place on March 19. The panel is expected to recommend a committee to formulate framework of code of conduct for legislators.

“Whatever happened in the Vidhan Bhavan premises last month was unfortunate and has brought disrepute to the state legislature. The committee is of the opinion that the legislators should observe self-discipline while enjoying the protection of the privileges they get,” said a source closely related to the panel, adding that the panel wanted the legislative authorities to take a look at the misuse of the privilege motion.

In its report, the committee is likely to register its notings on the incident, its seriousness, and the reasons behind it. It will also recommend measures to be taken to avoid such altercation between lawmakers and law enforcers.

“The police officer has been suspended and departmental inquiry has been initiated against him. Two of the suspended MLAs are facing criminal charges against them in court. The panel will not recommend anything about the punishment. Instead, our report will be targeted on avoiding such clashes in the future and the precautions to be taken by the legislators,” the source said.

Once the report is finalised by the panel on Tuesday, it will be first submitted to the speaker Dilip Walse Patil, who will table it in the assembly on Wednesday.