Officials also cited P G Mavalankar’s September 5, 1955 ruling on a similar privilege motion over the publication of the Bank Award Commission Report. The first Speaker of Lok Sabha chose to put the blame on the press/newspaper for non-observance of parliamentary convention. “It was undoubtedly improper for the paper to do so,” he had ruled.

On March 3, 1956, when notices for an adjournment motion was given on the contention that Budget proposals were allegedly leaked and amounted to breach of privilege, the Speaker, citing House of Commons records, ruled that it need not be referred to the Committee of Privileges.

Despite this, the UPA government, under pressure from the Opposition, would prefer the notice withdrawn rather than draw the PM into direct confrontation with his former Cabinet colleague.