New Delhi: The Supreme Court on November 10, will hear the petition by five senior journalists of 'The Hindu' newspaper challenging the legality of the Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution sentencing them to 15 days imprisonment on grounds of breach of privilege and contempt and seeking a stay on their arrest.

A two-judge Bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice S B Sinha will hear the petition immediately after the Bench assembles at 10:30 AM (IST).

The petition was filed yesterday evening (November 8) before a joint Registrar of the apex Court at his residence, who in turn placed it before Justice R C Lahoti, who directed the matter to be listed before the bench.

The petitioners said that the power of the Assembly under Article 194 of the Constitution providing for imposing sentences for breach of privilege should be read harmoniously with the citizens' fundamental right to expression guaranteed under Article 19(1).

Moreover, powers under Article 194 could not be superior to the right to life and liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution, they contended.

Though no immediate relief was available to the journalists - Editor N Ravi, Executive Editor Malini Parthasarathy, Publisher N Rangarajan, Chief of Bureau V Jayant and Special Correspondent Radha Venketesan yesterday, their counsel Harish Salve hoped that the authorities would not execute the arrest warrants in view of the petition pending before the apex Court.

PTI