Court cannot force production of assembly speeches tapes:HC

Kochi, Apr 8 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today ruled that the court cannot compel production of video tapes of speeches made in the State Legislative Assembly as this would amount to breach of privilege.

Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan passed the order while accepting the affidavit filed by the Kerala Legialative Assembly Secretariat that the video tape of the speech made by former MLA T M Jacob could not be produced as that would amount to breach of privilege.

The High Court had earlier directed the legislative secretary to produce the video copy of the speech made by Mr Jacob during the debate on a motion of no-confidence against the then Chief Minister Ommen Chandy.

The Court had issued the direction following a petition filed by one Mr A Narayanan, seeking to set aside the election of Mr Jacob as MLA from Piravom constituency.

The deputy secretary of the legislative secretariat had filed an affidavit stating that he cannot produce the tape, as it will be treated as breach of privilege.

The Court today accepted the affidavit and obseved that it could not compel the production of the video tape of the speech made by the MLA in the assembly.

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