The court found the Indian-origin opposition leader of Singapore, Pritam Singh, guilty in two cases of lying under oath in front of the parliamentary committee. He was fined 14,000 Singapore dollars i.e. about 09 lakh rupees for this. The laws in Singapore are very strict. But what will happen to an MP if he lies in the Indian Parliament? Will any action be taken against him so that not only he but other MPs also remember it and take it as a lesson?
However, the Indian-origin MP of Singapore escaped from jail as well as a more severe fine. Singapore's constitution states that if a sitting MP lies in Parliament, he will lose his seat if he is jailed for at least one year or fined at least 10,000 Singapore dollars. He will also disqualified from contesting elections. So the Singapore MP escaped this harsh punishment.
Singapore's Election Department confirmed that the punishment imposed on Singh does not reach the limit of disqualifying him as an MP. Now he can contest the next election.
48-year-old Singh was found guilty of giving false testimony before a parliamentary committee, which was investigating the conduct of former Workers' Party MP Rais Khan, who admitted to fabricating the story of going to the police station with a sexual harassment victim. The trial began four months ago.
Parliaments around the world have different rules and consequences for lying. Generally, the parliament of every country considers it a serious matter. However, in many countries including India, members of Parliament get some freedom under the "Parliamentary Privilege", which allows them to avoid legal action while making statements in Parliament. However, this privilege is not for lying or other wrongdoings.
What happens in India
In India, if an MP deliberately lies. If it is proved, he can be suspended from Parliament. If the matter is serious, legal action can also be taken. However, in the 74 years of parliamentary history of India, neither such a case has come against any MP nor has anything like this been proved and no punishment has been given.
What is its process in India
If an MP is accused of lying in Parliament, then first it is raised publicly inside or outside the Parliament. This allegation can usually be made by opposition MPs, media, or other parliamentary members. An MP is accused of lying when it is clearly seen that the MP has given wrong information, whether it is during the Question Hour of the House or on any other issue.
Then the matter can go to the Parliamentary Committee
MPs in the Indian Parliament enjoy “Parliamentary Privilege”, which means that they are legally protected from lawsuits for the statements they make in the House. However, disciplinary action can be taken against the MP for misusing this privilege.
If it is proved that the MP has deliberately lied, then it can be considered a violation of parliamentary privilege. If the allegation is serious, then the matter can be sent to the Parliamentary Committee. This committee investigates the allegations and decides whether the allegations are true or not. The committee presents its report to the House after conducting an impartial investigation of the matter.
So the punishment ranges from apology to suspension
If the investigation finds that the MP has lied, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is expected to look into the matter. They can take action depending on the severity of the matter.
These actions may include suspending the MP, calling him to explain for violating parliamentary privilege, or apologizing.
Membership can also be lost on serious matters
If the matter is very serious, there may also be an option to end the membership of the MP. For this, there may be a process of voting in the House, in which the decision is taken by a majority of the members. Usually, this happens when the matter is fully proven.
Membership can be lost in Britain
- “Perjury” is a crime in the British Parliament. If an MP lies in Parliament, it can lead to serious penalties, such as fines, imprisonment, or even termination of his membership. If an MP deliberately lies and is proven guilty, he or she may face a criminal charge. In the UK, it is considered extremely serious to deceive the proceedings of Parliament.
Serious offences in the US
Making “false statements” can be a serious offence in the US. If an MP lies to Parliament and it is found to be part of perjury or fraud, it can be a crime under “perjury”. This can result in criminal charges against them, which can lead to a conviction, which can include fines and jail time.
Forced to resign in Australia
In Australia, if an MP deliberately lies to Parliament, it is considered unethical. Although there is no concrete criminal punishment, it can seriously damage the reputation of the MP.
