What happened (Supreme Court’s order on the next hearing)
The Supreme Court ordered that a seven-judge Constitution Bench will begin hearing a cluster of long-pending petitions on October 6. The petitions ask whether parliamentary/legislative privileges can override citizens’ fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
Background and earlier position (how the dispute started)
The dispute traces back to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker’s actions after The Hindu published an editorial critical of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker then passed a House resolution accusing The Hindu of distorting proceedings and breaching the privileges of the entire House under Article 194 (Article 194 provides powers, privileges and immunities of State Legislatures).
After the Assembly resolution, steps were taken to arrest senior journalists associated with The Hindu, including then-editor N. Ravi.
Related current affairs
- ‘Misleading’ information about PM online; after 107 days, Hyderabad man gets bail
- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Stop the intimidation
- Shouldn’t there be a law of dissent? (or similar op-ed/column heading)
- Top court refuses to ban Lord Jagannath film, defends artistic freedom
- Hiding the scissors: The censor board has strayed from the law that underpins its existence
- Right to peaceful protest: police excesses can be punished; SC/HC directions (headline-only snippet)