What is the Parliament Privilege Committee?

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, on Thursday (September 28) referred the BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri and BSP MP Danish Ali issue to the Privilege Committee of the Lok Sabha.

The BJP MP from South Delhi had sparked a row by uttering objectionable slurs at Danish Ali during the Lok Sabha proceedings. Several opposition MPs had sought action against Bidhuri for his conduct. Following this, the Lok Sabha Speaker referred the matter to the Privilege Committee.

BJP MP @rameshbidhuri calling MP Danish Ali a “Bharwa” (pimp), “Katwa” (circumcised), “Mullah Atankwadi” & “Mullah Ugrawadi” ON RECORD in Lok Sabha last night.

Keeper of Maryada @ombirlakota Vishwaguru @narendramodi & BJP Prez @JPNadda along with GodiMedia- any action please? pic.twitter.com/sMHJqaGdUc

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) September 22, 2023

What is a Privileges Committee?

• A Privilege Committee consists of 15 members of the Lok Sabha (10 members in the case of Rajya Sabha) nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• It examines every question involving a breach of privilege of the House or of the member of any committee that is referred to it.
• It also evaluates the facts of each case whether a breach of privilege is involved and makes suitable recommendations in its report.
• When a question of privilege is referred to the Committee by the Speaker, the report of the committee is presented to the speaker who may pass final orders thereon or direct that it be laid on the table of the house. 
• The Speaker may refer to the committee any petition regarding the disqualification of a member on the ground of defection for making a preliminary enquiry and submitting a report to him.

Will there be an action against Bidhuri?

• Though the matter has been referred to the privileges committee, an action against Ramesh Bidhuri seems unlikely, given the latest developments. 
• Sunil Kumar Singh, who is the head of the Privileges Committee, is an MP from the ruling party. 
• A couple of days ago, Ramesh Bidhuri was given poll responsibility for Rajasthan's Tonk seat, from where former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot is expected to contest in the Rajasthan assembly elections in 2023.
• Bidhuri is being sent there to consolidate the Gurjar vote in favour of the BJP at the Tonk seat.

Setting aside procedural, ethical, and conventional considerations, Bidhuri might escape with a mere warning when he could have otherwise faced a substantial penalty.