Tamil Nadu assembly Speaker K Kalimuthu today took suo moto cognisance of alleged acts of breach of privilege by the English-language daily The Hindu and referred the matter to the privileges committee of the house. Simultaneously, he referred a breach of privilege charge against Congress legislative party leader S R Balasubramanian to the panel.

The speaker described The Hindu's reportage of the proceedings of the assembly as 'motivated, distorted and incorrect', and declared: "It breached the sovereignty of the house and lowered its prestige."

Kalimuthu prefaced the statement with the observation that freedom of the press is fully protected in the state assembly. He then quoted extensively from the newspaper's coverage of the assembly's proceedings on April 12, 13 and 23, and listed usages such as 'Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's stinging abuse', 'unrestrained attacks on the Opposition', and 'incensed Jayalalithaa alleged in a high-pitched tone' as offending its dignity.

He said today's report headlined 'Jayalalithaa taunts Marxists again' was contrary to facts. "The reports were intended to blacken the reputation of the government, and stunt its support by any means," he said.

A few days ago, the speaker had named reporters of two newspapers, including The Hindu, for talking in the press gallery of the assembly. He had also cautioned the media against reporting anything said by MLAs in the lobby of the assembly, saying it could cost them their seats in the press gallery.

The privilege issue against Balasubramanian flows from his charge yesterday that the intelligence service of the state police controls the assembly's microphones. The Congressman made the charge when there were disturbances in his mike.

Kalimuthu, who today restored Balasubramanian's expunged remarks, described them as 'baseless and unjust'. He also disallowed Balasubramanian from making a submission, pointing out that there could be no discussion on an issue after
the speaker had ruled on it.