DMK MLA suspended for recording proceedings

A DMK MLA, T R B Raja, was on Tuesday suspended from the Tamil Nadu Assembly for 10 days, on a privilege issue against him for clicking House proceedings with his mobile camera.

Raja, son of the former Union minister and DMK MP, T R Baalu, was seen taking pictures of the House proceedings with his cell-phone camera during the previous session, which was then seized from him and the matter was later referred by the Speaker D Jayakumar, to the Privileges Committee.  

Initially, Raja had denied that he had used his mobile to take pictures, but the Speaker had said that he will have to refer to the House Privileges Committee if the former’s cell-phone camera was found to have the pictures.

The Assembly suspended Raja from participating from the House proceedings—five days in the present session and another five days in the ensuing Budget session- on the basis of a resolution moved after question hour on Monday, which was adopted by a voice vote by the members.

The resolution, incorporating the recommendations of the Privilege Panel by the leader of the House and Finance Minister, O Pannerselvam, said the Assembly was accepting them and accordingly  Raja was being suspended for an act that infringed upon the privileges of the House.