Home The Constitution Part VI Article 194

Art. 194 Part VI: The States

Powers, Privileges, etc., of the Houses of Legislatures and of the Members and Committees Thereof

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of the Legislature, there shall be freedom of speech in the Legislature of every State. (2) No member of the Legislature of a State shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in the Legislature or any committee thereof... (3) In other respects, the powers, privileges and immunities of a House of the Legislature of a State, and of the members and the committees of a House of such Legislature, shall be such as may from time to time be defined by the Legislature by law...

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

The state-level mirror of Article 105 — MLAs enjoy the same freedom of speech within their Legislature and immunity from court proceedings for anything said or voted on during proceedings, protecting robust legislative debate at the state level too.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why State Assembly and Council members, like MPs, can speak candidly during legislative proceedings without fear of defamation suits or other legal consequences for their in-House statements.

Read alongside this one

Art. 105 — Powers, Privileges, etc., of the Houses of Parliament

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 194

Does this immunity cover everything an MLA says anywhere, or just in the Legislature?

Specifically within the Legislature's proceedings (or its committees) — statements made outside that protected context don't enjoy this specific immunity.

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The text above reproduces Article 194 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.