Karnataka Assembly Speaker Kagadu Thimmappa rejects breach of privilege notice against RV Deshpande

BENGALUR: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagadu Thimmappa has rejected Opposition BJP's notice on breach of privilege motion against Tourism Minister RV Deshpande for launching the government's tourism policy in an event when the Legislature is in session.

In his ruling, the Speaker said the programme on July 16 is a continuation of the government orders that were issued already.

"This is not a new programme, hence the notice issued by the members does not come under breach of privilege. Considering this, I reject the notice given by the members," he said.

The Tourism Department had on July 16 organised the event to launch Karnataka Tourism Policy 2015-2020 and signing of MoU with corporates for adoption of tourism destinations in the state in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The very next day, BJP members Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and others had given a privilege notice.

In his reply, Deshpande had pointed out that the policy was already in public domain, and the event was to publicise it and make it known to corporates.

Thimmappa said the Government Order on the policy was issued on March 26, and it had been uploaded on the website.

The Tourism Minister had also mentioned about the policy in his reply to questions from members of both the Houses, he said.

Referring to rulings from the Speakers in the past, Thimmappa said "they note that announcing government's policies and programmes outside the House when it is in session is a breach of courtesy, and the book on Practice and Procedure of Parliament considers such act as a breach of convention."