What are the restrictions on discussing State Assembly proceedings?

Rajya Sabha members are strictly prohibited from discussing proceedings of State Assemblies. This includes commenting on the conduct of State Assembly members, questioning decisions of State Assembly Speakers, or attempting to discuss matters that are already under consideration by State Legislatures.

Understanding the principle: This prohibition stems from the concept of comity between legislatures - a mutual respect for each other's independence and autonomy. Each legislative body has its own rules, procedures, and privileges. If national parliamentarians could freely criticize or comment on state legislature proceedings, it would undermine the authority of those bodies and potentially create friction between different levels of government. The restriction also prevents duplication of debates and ensures that matters are resolved at the appropriate level of governance. As the Chairman eloquently stated in one ruling, the principle is essentially "We do not discuss you and you do not discuss us."

Key citations:

• Deputy Chairman's ruling (27 March 1992) firmly established that "You cannot raise the issue of a State Assembly here... What happens of that nature in the State Assembly, we cannot discuss it in the House" - this explicitly defines the boundary between parliamentary and state assembly jurisdictions.
• Chairman's ruling (25 July 1966) succinctly stated "I do not want the proceedings of the U.P. Assembly discussed here" - providing a clear precedent during early parliamentary development.
• Deputy Chairman's observation (9 March 1984) warned that allowing discussion of state assembly affairs would be "a dangerous practice" - highlighting the serious implications of breaching this principle.
• Deputy Chairman's ruling (3 March 2008) reinforced that "The Assembly matter shouldn't be discussed... You need not mention here what has happened in the Tamil Nadu Assembly" - demonstrating the continuing importance of this restriction in contemporary parliamentary practice.
• Rule 5.5 in the Reference Note further establishes that Members should not question decisions of State Legislature Speakers but may refer to general case nature without naming individuals - providing a subtle distinction between prohibited specific criticism and permissible general reference.