Speaker Final Authority On Any Decision Regarding Live Telecast Of Assembly Proceedings: Tamil Nadu Govt To Madras High Court

Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram made the submissions before the bench of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice P.D Audikesavulu in a plea moved by D. Jagadheeswaran, State president of Lok Satta Party and A. Vijayakant, leader of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam seeking live telecast of proceedings of the house. S.P Velumani, chief whip of AIADMK party had also filed an impleading petition challenging the selective telecast.

AG submitted that the first hour, also known as the Question Hour of the TN Legislative Assembly, is being telecast live since January 2022. He also submitted that discussions on important resolutions and call for motions are also being telecast live since April 2023. He further submitted that edited footage of all businesses of the House are also provided to media channels a few hours after the assembly proceedings.

The AG also said that the Speaker is the final authority to take a decision about the telecast of proceedings and this power under Article 122 of the Constitution cannot be questioned by the courts.

The court questioned why proceedings of the house cannot be shown at the end of the day after editing only the expunged remarks and sought to know whether a proposal for live telecast of speeches made during the zero hour was under consideration.

Senior Counsel Vijay Narayan, appearing for Velumani argued that even though with all advancements, one can view the proceedings in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, in Tamil Nadu only edited videos of the proceedings are being shown.

The case will now be heard on June 26.

Case Title: Vijayakanth v. Secretary and others

Case No: WP 37424 of 2015