Kamra has sought permission to be made party in the case of N Ravi and ors v. Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Chennai, in which the Court is slated to examine the interplay of legislative privileges with the freedom of speech and the right to life and liberty.
Due to this, he faced breach of privilege proceedings before the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on grounds that he disrespected and insulted Shinde.
Kamra has already filed a plea to quash the criminal case before the Bombay High Court, which stayed his arrest but is yet to give its final verdict in the matter.
Kamra has now sought to make submissions before the Supreme Court on the larger issue of the limits of legislative privilege.
He goes on to argue that if legislative privilege is invoked in this manner, it would have a chilling effect on the free speech of citizens across India.
Kamra has sought permission to be made party in the case of N Ravi and ors v. Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Chennai, in which the Court is slated to examine the interplay of legislative privileges with the freedom of speech and the right to life and liberty.
Kamra was prompted to move his plea for intervention on account of the breach of privilege proceedings that he presently faces before the Maharashtra assembly over a satirical song played on his comedy show ‘Naya Bharat.’
Kamra’s satirical performance dwelt on the split of the Shiv Sena party in 2022, which led to the resignation of then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and the eventual formation of a new State regime led by Eknath Shinde. In his song, Kamra also reportedly called Shinde ‘Gaddar’ (traitor).
Due to this, he faced breach of privilege proceedings before the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on grounds that he disrespected and insulted Shinde.
A criminal case was also registered against him. Kamra has already filed a plea to quash the criminal case before the Bombay High Court, which stayed his arrest but is yet to give its final verdict in the matter.
Kamra has now sought to make submissions before the Supreme Court on the larger issue of the limits of legislative privilege.
“The Applicant believes that his case demonstrates that the exercise of legislative privileges affects not only the freedom of speech and expression of members of the press, but also of any citizen who wishes to speak about the actions of members of the legislature,” his plea states.
He goes on to argue that if legislative privilege is invoked in this manner, it would have a chilling effect on the free speech of citizens across India.
He has highlighted that the proceedings against him has even made it difficult for him to secure a venue for his shows in Mumbai, and that he continues to face the risk of similar proceedings should he choose to comment on the actions of any member of any legislature in India.
“It is disquieting that provisions of the Constitution can be deployed to discourage speech and commentary that concerns the actions of elected representatives,” the plea adds.
