NEW DELHI: Limiting the powers of the Indian judiciary the Upper House of Parliament today [July 24] passed a constitutional amendment barring courts from reviewing Prime Minister Indira Gandhi`s emergency rule. With all the main opposition parties absent in the 245-member House, the amendment was approved 164-0. Mrs Gandhi`s Congress Party ... picked up support from allies in the pro-Moscow Communist Party, regional political groups and some independents.

... In introducing the ... amendment ... the Government said it wanted to place the matter beyond doubt that there could be no judicial scrutiny on the issue. The amendment also prohibits the courts from reviewing any ordinances issued by the President on behalf of the Government when Parliament is not in session.

Indian newspapers acting under censorship regulations continued to report only Government statements from the ... Parliament session... . The papers can give the names of the opposition members who speak but cannot report their comments. ... [BBC] correspondent Mark Tully was officially declared expelled from India... . ... At the BBC`s instructions, Mr Tully refused to sign documents committing himself to abide by the new censorship regulations. News agencies