Use power of privilege wisely: AG to legislature

Maharashtra Advocate General Darius Khambata has urged lawmakers to use the power of privilege wisely to ensure that it is not diluted.
"The power of privilege granted to the legislature is a far-reaching power. If it is not exercised wisely and infrequently, you will dilute it," Khambata said, addressing a seminar organised by the state legislature secretariat at Vidhan Bhawan here last evening.
"A strong power is to be exercised with great wisdom, otherwise the House itself will dilute its own powers. If you exercise it 100 times and is set aside 50 times in court, you will dilute it," he said.

"I urge all of you...Think five times. It may be (that) something may have upset you...Think whether it is a personal affront to you or if it is something that affects the House," Khambata said.
"And only if you feel that it affects the House, then take action. Every time the action is taken and doesn't succeed or doesn't go anywhere, you are diluting the power," he said.
"I don't think it is a good thing if the power of the House is diluted," Khambata said.
Constitutional expert and former secretary general of the Lok Sabha, Subhash C Kashyap and Speaker Dilip Walse Patil also addressed the seminar.