Section 7

Any person being a defendant in any civil or criminal proceedings instituted for or on account or in respect of the publication by such person or by his employee, by order or under the authority of Parliament or any committee, of any reports, papers or journals may on giving to the plaintiff or prosecutor, as the case may be, 24 hours’ written notice of his intention, bring before the court in which the civil or criminal proceedings are being held a certificate under the hand of the Speaker or of the Clerk stating that the reports, papers or journals in respect whereof the civil or criminal proceedings have been instituted were published by that person or by his employee by order or under the authority of Parliament or any committee.

The court shall thereupon immediately stay the civil or criminal proceedings, and the same and every process issued therein shall be deemed to be finally determined.