Why it is in the news
A seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court is listed to begin hearing, on 6 October 2026, the reference in N. Ravi v. Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Chennai (W.P.(Crl.) 206–210 of 2003) on whether a legislature's privileges under Article 194(3) can override the citizen's freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). On 29–30 September 2026, senior journalists Ajit Anjum and Seema Chishti and stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra applied to intervene.
The exam angle
Issue: Can uncodified legislative privileges, designed to protect a House's functioning, be used to punish citizens and journalists for criticism — and who decides the limits?