Committee of Privileges
Functions, Powers, and Procedure
The Committee of Privileges is a Parliamentary Standing Committee in the Lok Sabha consisting of 15 members nominated by the Speaker. Its Rajya Sabha counterpart has 10 members. The committee examines questions of privilege referred to it by the Speaker (for Lok Sabha) or the Chairman (for Rajya Sabha), after a member raises a privilege motion.
- A privilege motion must be raised at the earliest opportunity; the Speaker/Chairman decides whether the matter involves a prima facie breach before referring it to the committee.
- The committee has quasi-judicial powers: it can take evidence, examine witnesses, call for records, and hold sittings in camera.
- It submits a report to the House with findings and, if a breach is established, recommended punishment — which can range from reprimand and admonition to suspension or even expulsion.
- Parliament (not courts) is the sole judge of its own privileges — no court can review a Parliament committee's finding on breach of privilege.
● Tracked since March 03, 2026 · last seen March 04, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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