The Legislature committee probing the porngate episode on Thursday decided to summon three MLAs who had to quit as Ministers following the scandal, even as its decision to first question the television channels which aired the footage has sparked a controversy.

Two senior journalists, representing different news channels, appeared before the panel on Wednesday and Thursday after summons and were asked questions, a move that evoked a sharp reaction from the mainstream media which saw it as a ploy to train guns on it, rather than focusing on the "accused".

Asked by reporters if a decision has been taken to summon the three MLAs -- Lakshman S Savadi, C C Patil and J Krishna Palemar -- the head of the committee, Srishailappa Bidadur, said after Thursday's sitting: "That has been decided and you will come to know later on".

The committee would hold its next meeting on March 8, he said but refused to say as to when the three, who have already sent written replies to notices sent by the Speaker K G Bopaiah on the episode, would depose before the panel. After receiving the responses, the Speaker handed over the probe to this committee.

Television footage of Legislative Assembly proceedings showed Savadi watching pornclips and Patil, sitting next to him, also having a look at it, on a mobile phone of Palemar last month, and the three had to quit the next day following public outrage.