indus.express
07/10/2026

Supreme Court May Defer Ruling on Legislative Privilege Case

Updated 1 day ago: The new version specifies that the hearings may not begin on October 6 and mentions that the case could be an academic exercise, while also detailing the involvement of a five-judge Bench prior to the seven-judge Bench.

A seven-judge Constitution Bench may not begin hearings on October 6 regarding legislative privilege and free speech, stemming from a 2003 Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution targeting The Hindu's editorial staff. Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran noted the resolution was withdrawn in 2004, suggesting the case may be an academic exercise. Chief Justice Surya Kant indicated the court prefers not to engage in prolonged discussions on this matter, especially with other pending cases. The case, which involves significant constitutional questions about Articles 194 and 19, has been in the judicial system since the Assembly's resolution led to police attempts to arrest The Hindu's editors. The Supreme Court had previously referred the issue to a five-judge Bench and later to a seven-judge Bench for a definitive ruling.

Published 1 day ago • 05 Oct 2026, 12:19 PM IST

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