PARLIAMENT
PARLIAMENT NOTESNOTES
Quorum
Quorumtoto constituteconstitute aa sittingsitting of of thethe HouseHouse isis oneone
‐‐
tenthtenth of of thethe totaltotal numbernumber of of membersmembers of of thethe HouseHouse underunder articlearticle 100(3)100(3)
Qualifications:
Qualifications:toto becomebecome aa membermember of of thethe LokLok Sabha,Sabha, aa personperson shouldshould bebe aa citizencitizen of of India,India, notnot less
less thanthan 2525 yearsyears of of ageage andand possesspossess suchsuch otherother qualificationsqualifications asas maymay bebe prescribedprescribed byby oror underunder any
any lawlaw mademade byby ParliamentParliament [Art.[Art. 84]84]
Deadlock
Deadlock betweenbetween thethe twotwo HousesHouses:: InIn thethe casecase of of BillsBills otherother thanthan MoneyMoney BillsBills andand ConstitutionConstitution Amendment
Amendment Bills,Bills, aa disagreementdisagreement betweenbetween thethe twotwo HousesHouses maymay arisearise whenwhen aa BillBill passedpassed byby oneone House
House isis rejectedrejected byby thethe otherother House;House; oror thethe HousesHouses havehave finallyfinally disagreeddisagreed asas toto thethe amendmentsamendments to
to bebe mademade inin thethe Bill;Bill; oror moremore thanthan sixsix monthsmonths havehave elapsedelapsed fromfrom thethe datedate of of receiptreceipt of of thethe BillBill by
by thethe otherother HouseHouse withoutwithout thethe BillBill beingbeing passedpassed byby it.it.
•
• "Adjournment""Adjournment"isis aa postppostponementonement of of thethe sittingsitting oror proceedingsproceedings of of thethe HouseHouse fromfrom oneone timetime
to
to anotheranother specifiedspecified forfor thethe reassemblingreassembling of of thethe House.House. DuringDuring thethe coursecourse of of aa Session,Session, thethe Lok
Lok SabhaSabha maymay bebe adjournedadjourned fromfrom dayday toto dayday oror forfor moremore thanthan aa day.day. ItIt maymay alsoalso bebe adjourned
adjourned sinesine diedie whichwhich meansmeans thethe terminationtermination of of aa sittingsitting of of thethe HouseHouse withoutwithout anyany definite
definite datedate beingbeing fixedfixed forfor itsits nextnext sitting.sitting.
•
• "Prorogation""Prorogation" meansmeans thethe terminationtermination of of aa SessionSession of of thethe HouseHouse byby anan orderorder mademade byby thethe
President
President underunder articlearticle 85(2)(a)85(2)(a) of of thethe Constitution.Constitution. TheThe ProrogationProrogation of of thethe HouseHouse maymay taketake place
place anyany time,time, eveneven whilewhile thethe HouseHouse isis sitting.sitting. However,However, usually,usually, prorogationprorogation followsfollows thethe adjournment
adjournment of of thethe sittingsitting of of thethe HouseHouse sinesine die.die.
•
• "Dissolution""Dissolution" of of thethe HouseHouse meansmeans thethe endend of of thethe lifelife of of thethe LokLok SabhaSabha eithereither byby anan orderorder
made
made byby thethe PresidentPresident underunder articlearticle 8585 (2)(2) (b)(b) of of thethe ConstitutionConstitution oror onon thethe expirationexpiration of of thethe period
period of of fivefive yearsyears fromfrom thethe datedate appointedappointed forfor itsits firstfirst meeting.meeting. DissolutionDissolution putsputs anan endend toto the
the representativerepresentative charactercharacter of of thethe individualsindividuals whowho atat thethe timetime composecompose thethe LokLok Sabha.Sabha.
On
On adjournmentadjournment of of thethe LokLok SabhaSabha oror itsits adjournmentadjournment sinesine die,die, thethe pendingpending businessbusiness doesdoes notnot lapse.
lapse. BillsBills pendingpending beforebefore eithereither HouseHouse oror Select/JointSelect/Joint Committee,Committee, Motions,Motions, Resolutions,Resolutions, andand amendments
amendments whichwhich havehave alreadyalready beenbeen movedmoved andand pendingpending inin thethe House,House, andand businessbusiness pendingpending before
before aa ParliamentaryParliamentary CommitteeCommittee dodo notnot lapselapse onon prorogationprorogation whereaswhereas allall businessbusiness pendingpending before
before thethe HouseHouse oror anyany of of itsits CommitteeCommittee lapselapse onon dissolution.dissolution. ProrogationProrogation terminatesterminates aa SessionSession and
and doesdoes notnot constituteconstitute anan interruptioninterruption inin thethe continuitycontinuity of of lifelife of of thethe LokLok SabhaSabha whichwhich isis broughtbrought to
What
What areare thethe methodsmethods of of votingvoting inin thethe LokLok Sabha?Sabha?
The
The procedureprocedure regardingregarding VotingVoting andand DivisionsDivisions inin thethe HouseHouse isis governedgoverned byby articlearticle 100(1)100(1) of of thethe Constitution
Constitution andand RulesRules 367,367, 367A,367A, 367AA367AA andand 367B367B of of thethe RulesRules of of ProcedureProcedure andand ConductConduct of of Business
Business inin LokLok Sabha.Sabha. TheThe variousvarious methodsmethods adoptedadopted forfor votingvoting inin thethe LokLok SabhaSabha are:are:
(i)
(i) VoiceVoice Vote:Vote: ItIt isis aa simplesimple methodmethod forfor decidingdeciding aa questionquestion putput byby thethe ChairChair onon aa motionmotion made
made byby aa member.member. UnderUnder thisthis method,method, thethe questionquestion beforebefore thethe HouseHouse isis determineddetermined by
by thethe `Ayes'`Ayes' oror thethe `Noes',`Noes', asas thethe casecase maymay be.be. (ii)
(ii) Division:Division: ThereThere areare threethree methodsmethods of of holdingholding aa Division,Division, i.e.i.e. (a)(a) byby operatingoperating thethe Automatic
Automatic VoteVote RecordingRecording Equipment;Equipment; (b)(b) byby distributingdistributing `Ayes'`Ayes' andand `Noes'`Noes' slipsslips inin thethe House;
House; andand (c)(c) byby membersmembers goinggoing intointo thethe LobbiesLobbies (iii)
(iii) SecretSecret Ballot:Ballot: DuringDuring anan 'open''open' votingvoting period,period, thethe individualindividual resultsresults areare shownshown byby thethe three
three characterscharacters 'A','A', 'N''N' andand 'O''O' onon thethe IndividualIndividual ResultResult DisplayDisplay Panel.Panel. SecretSecret voting,voting, if if any,
any, isis onon similarsimilar lineslines (iv)
(iv) RecordingRecording of of votesvotes byby distributiondistribution of of slips:slips: TheThe methodmethod of of recordingrecording of of votesvotes byby membersmembers on
on `Aye'`Aye' andand `No'`No' slipsslips isis generallygenerally resortedresorted toto inin thethe eventualityeventuality of of (i)(i) suddensudden failurefailure of of the
the workingworking of of thethe AutomaticAutomatic VoteVote RecordingRecording Equipment;Equipment; andand (ii)(ii) atat thethe commencementcommencement of
of thethe newnew LokLok Sabha,Sabha, beforebefore thethe seats/divisionseats/division numbersnumbers havehave beenbeen allottedallotted toto members.members. (v)
(v) PhysicalPhysical countcount of of MembersMembers inin theirtheir placesplaces insteadinstead of of aa formalformal division:division: If If inin thethe opinionopinion of of the
the Chair,Chair, aa DivisionDivision isis unnecessarilyunnecessarily claimed,claimed, he/shehe/she maymay askask thethe membersmembers whowho areare forfor `Aye'
`Aye' andand thosethose forfor `No',`No', respectivelyrespectively,, toto riserise inin theirtheir placesplaces andand onon aa countcount beingbeing takentaken,, he/she
he/she maymay declaredeclare thethe determinationdetermination of of thethe House.House. InIn suchsuch aa case,case, thethe particularsparticulars of of voting
voting of of thethe membersmembers areare notnot recorded.recorded. (vi)
(vi) CastingCasting Vote:Vote: If If inin aa DivisionDivision thethe numbernumber of of `Ayes'`Ayes' andand `Noes'`Noes' isis equal,equal, thethe questionquestion isis decided
decided byby thethe castingcasting votevote of of thethe Chair.Chair. UnderUnder thethe Constitution,Constitution, thethe SpeakerSpeaker oror thethe person
person actingacting asas suchsuch cannotcannot votevote inin aa Division;Division; he/shehe/she hashas onlyonly aa castingcasting votevote whichwhich he/
he/sheshe mustmust exerciseexercise inin thethe casecase of of equalityequality of of votes.votes.
Question
Question HourHour:: RuleRule 3232 of of thethe “Rules“Rules of of ProcedureProcedure andand conductconduct of of BusinessBusiness inin LokLok Sabha”Sabha” provides
provides thatthat unlessunless thethe SpeakerSpeaker otherwiseotherwise desiresdesires thethe firstfirst hourhour of of everyevery sittingsitting of of thethe HouseHouse shall
shall bebe availableavailable forfor thethe askingasking andand answeringanswering of of Questions.Questions. Thus,Thus, itit isis takentaken upup fromfrom 11001100 hrshrs toto 1200
Different
Different typestypes of of QuestionsQuestions
Starred:Starred:AA membermember whowho desiresdesires anan oraloral answeranswer toto hishis questionquestion isis requiredrequired toto distinguishdistinguish itit byby
an
an asterix.asterix. MaximumMaximum 2020 QuestionsQuestions areare includedincluded inin thethe listlist of of StarredStarred QuestionsQuestions forfor aa particular
particular day.day. ThisThis isis printedprinted onon greengreen paper.paper. MinimumMinimum of of 1515 clearclear daysdays noticenotice isis requiredrequired forfor tabling
tabling StarredStarred Questions.Questions. TheThe QuestionsQuestions notnot orallyorally answeredanswered inin thethe StarredStarred listlist of of questionsquestions are
are treatedtreated asas aa UnstarredUnstarred QuestionsQuestions andand theirtheir repliesreplies areare laidlaid onon thethe TableTable of of thethe House.House.
Unstarred:Unstarred: TheseThese dodo notnot carrycarry thethe asterixasterix markmark andand areare meantmeant forfor obtainingobtaining writtenwritten reply.reply.
Not
Not moremore thanthan 230230 QuestionsQuestions cancan bebe placedplaced onon thethe UnstarredUnstarred listlist forfor aa particularparticular sitting.sitting. ThisThis list
list isis printedprinted onon whitewhite paper.paper. MinimumMinimum of of 1515 clearclear daysdays noticenotice isis requiredrequired forfor tablingtabling Unstarred
Unstarred Questions.Questions. WrittenWritten answersanswers givengiven byby thethe MinistersMinisters areare deemeddeemed toto havehave beenbeen laidlaid on
on thethe TableTable of of thethe HouseHouse atat endend of of QuestionQuestion Hour.Hour.
ShortShort NoticeNotice Question:Question:QuestionQuestion cancan alsoalso bebe askedasked onon aa mattermatter of of urgenturgent publicpublic importanceimportance
at
at aa noticenotice of of lessless thanthan thethe periodperiod specifiedspecified forfor ordinaryordinary Question.Question. TheThe listlist of of admittedadmitted SNQ SNQ isis printed
printed onon aa pinkpink paper.paper. TheThe procedureprocedure of of SNQ SNQ isis regulatedregulated byby RuleRule 5454 andand thethe basicbasic testtest forfor its
its admissibilityadmissibility isis thethe urgencyurgency of of matter.matter. SNQ SNQ isis askedasked andand answeredanswered soonsoon afterafter thethe QuestionQuestion Hour.
Hour.
QuestionQuestion toto PrivatePrivate Members:Members:AA QuestionQuestion maymay alsoalso bebe addressedaddressed toto aa PrivatePrivate MemberMember underunder
Rule
Rule 4040 of of thethe RulesRules of of ProcedureProcedure andand ConductConduct of of BusinessBusiness inin LokLok Sabha,Sabha, whichwhich providesprovides thatthat the
the subjectsubject mattermatter of of thethe questionquestion shouldshould bebe relatedrelated toto somesome Bill,Bill, ResolutionResolution oror otherother mattermatter connected
connected withwith thethe BusinessBusiness of of thethe HouseHouse forfor whichwhich thatthat membermember isis responsible.responsible. ForFor instance,
instance, thethe QuestionsQuestions whichwhich relatesrelates toto mattersmatters underunder thethe purviewpurview of of ParliamentaryParliamentary Committees
Committees cancan bebe addressedaddressed toto respectiverespective Chairman.Chairman. Similarly,Similarly, MembersMembers pilotingpiloting PrivatePrivate Members
Members BillsBills andand ResolutionsResolutions cancan bebe addressedaddressed questions,questions, whichwhich areare withinwithin cognizancecognizance of of them
them underunder thisthis provision.provision. TheThe procedureprocedure inin regardregard toto suchsuch questionsquestions isis thethe samesame asas thatthat followed
followed inin thethe casecase of of questionsquestions addressedaddressed toto aa MinisterMinister withwith suchsuch variationsvariations asas thethe SpeakerSpeaker may
may considerconsider necessary.necessary.
Half
Half
‐‐
anan‐‐
HourHour Discussion:Discussion: AnotherAnother instrumentinstrument availableavailable toto thethe membersmembers of of LokLok SabhaSabha forfor raisingraising issueissue of of publicpublic importanceimportance isis thethe Half Half
‐‐
anan‐‐
HourHour Discussion.Discussion. UnderUnder this,this, aa MemberMember maymay raiseraise discussiondiscussion onon aa mattermatter of of sufficientsufficient publicpublic importanceimportance whichwhich hashas beenbeen thethe subjectsubject of of aa recentrecent question,
question, Starred,Starred, UnstarredUnstarred oror ShortShort NoticeNotice QuestionQuestion andand thethe answeranswer toto whichwhich needsneeds furtherfurther elucidation
elucidation onon aa mattermatter of of fact.fact.
Parliamentary
Parliamentary ForumsForums havehave beenbeen constitutedconstituted withwith thethe objectiveobjective of of equippingequipping membersmembers withwith information
a
a resultresult
‐‐
orientedoriented approachapproach towardstowards relatedrelated issues.issues. TheseThese ForumsForums provideprovide anan opportunityopportunity toto membersmembers toto comecome togethertogether andand discussdiscuss aa particularparticular issueissue andand itsits widerwider ramifications.ramifications.
1.
1. 11STST
‐‐
WaterWater ConservationConservation andand ManagementManagement waswas constitutedconstituted inin 2005.2005. 2.2. ParliamentaryParliamentary ForumForum onon YouthYouth 3.
3. ChildrenChildren 4.
4. PopulationPopulation andand PublicPublic HealthHealth 5.
5. GlobalGlobal WarmingWarming andand ClimateClimate ChangeChange 6.
6. DisasterDisaster ManagementManagement
Steps
Steps involvedinvolved inin thethe passagepassage of of aa BillBill
•
• AA BillBill whilewhile beingbeing consideredconsidered hashas toto undergoundergo threethree stagesstages inin eacheach HouseHouse of of Parliament.Parliament. TheThe
first
first stagestage consistsconsists of of thethe introductionintroduction of of thethe BillBill whichwhich isis donedone onon aa motionmotion movedmoved byby eithereither aa Minister
Minister oror aa member.member.
•
• DuringDuring thethe secondsecond stage,stage, anyany of of thethe followingfollowing motionsmotions cancan bebe moved:moved: thatthat thethe BillBill bebe takentaken
into
into consideration;consideration; thatthat itit bebe referredreferred toto aa SelectSelect CommitteeCommittee of of thethe House;House; thatthat itit bebe referredreferred to
to aa JointJoint CommitteeCommittee of of thethe twotwo Houses;Houses; oror thatthat itit bebe circulatedcirculated forfor thethe purposepurpose of of elicitingeliciting opinion
opinion thereon.thereon. Thereafter,Thereafter, thethe BillBill isis takentaken upup forfor clauseclause
‐‐
byby‐‐
clauseclause considerationconsideration asas introducedintroduced oror asas reportedreported byby thethe Select/JointSelect/Joint Committee.Committee.
•
• TheThe thirdthird stagestage isis confinedconfined toto thethe discussiondiscussion onon thethe motionmotion thatthat thethe BillBill bebe passedpassed andand thethe BillBill
is
is passed/rejectedpassed/rejected eithereither byby votingvoting oror voicevoice votevote (or(or returnedreturned toto thethe LokLok SabhaSabha byby thethe RajyaRajya Sabha
Sabha inin thethe casecase of of aa MoneyMoney Bill).Bill).
Calling
Calling AttentionAttention MotionMotion
•
• UnderUnder thisthis proceduralprocedural device,device, aa membermember may,may, withwith thethe priorprior permissionpermission of of thethe Speaker,Speaker, callcall
the
the attentionattention of of aa MinisterMinister toto anyany mattermatter of of urgenturgent publicpublic importanceimportance andand thethe MinisterMinister maymay make
make aa brief brief statementstatement oror askask forfor timetime toto makemake aa statementstatement later.later.
•
• ThereThere cancan bebe nono debatedebate onon suchsuch aa statementstatement atat thethe timetime itit isis made.made. But,But, brief brief clarificationsclarifications
can
can bebe soughtsought fromfrom thethe MinisterMinister byby thethe membermember whowho hashas initiatedinitiated thethe CallingCalling AttentionAttention andand other
other membersmembers whowho areare calledcalled byby thethe Speaker.Speaker.
•
• OnlyOnly thosethose mattersmatters whichwhich areare primarilyprimarily thethe concernconcern of of thethe UnionUnion GovernmentGovernment cancan bebe raisedraised
through
through aa CallingCalling AttentionAttention notice.notice.
•
• TheThe CallingCalling AttentionAttention procedureprocedure isis anan IndianIndian innovationinnovation whichwhich combinescombines askingasking aa questionquestion
with
with supplementariessupplementaries andand makingmaking brief brief comments;comments; thethe GovernmentGovernment alsoalso getsgets adequateadequate opportunity
•
• TheThe CallingCalling AttentionAttention mattermatter isis notnot subjectsubject toto thethe votevote of of thethe House.House.
MOTION MOTION
`Motion'
`Motion' inin parliamentaryparliamentary parlanceparlance meansmeans anyany formalformal proposalproposal mademade toto thethe HouseHouse byby aa membermember for
for thethe purposepurpose of of elicitingeliciting aa decisiondecision of of thethe House.House. ItIt isis phrasedphrased inin suchsuch aa wayway that,that, if if adopted,adopted, itit will
will purportpurport toto expressexpress thethe judgement judgement oror willwill of of thethe House.House. AnyAny mattermatter of of importanceimportance cancan bebe thethe subject
subject mattermatter of of aa motion.motion. TheThe movermover of of aa motionmotion framesframes itit inin aa formform inin whichwhich he/shehe/she wisheswishes itit ultimately
ultimately toto bebe passedpassed byby thethe HouseHouse andand onon whichwhich aa votevote of of thethe HouseHouse cancan convenientlyconveniently bebe taken.
taken.
3
3 broadbroad categories:categories: substantivesubstantive motions,motions, substitutesubstitute motionsmotions andand subsidiarysubsidiary motions.motions.
1.
1. AA substantivesubstantive motionmotion isis aa self self
‐‐
contained,contained, independentindependent proposalproposal mademade inin referencereference toto aasubject
subject whichwhich thethe movermover wisheswishes toto bringbring forward.forward. AllAll Resolutions,Resolutions, MotionsMotions forfor electionelection of of the
the SpeakerSpeaker andand DeputyDeputy Speaker,Speaker, andand MotionMotion of of ThanksThanks onon thethe AddressAddress byby thethe President,President, etc.etc. are
are examplesexamples of of substantivesubstantive motions.motions. 2.
2. AA substitutesubstitute motion,motion, asas itsits namename suggests,suggests, isis movedmoved inin substitutionsubstitution of of thethe originaloriginal motionmotion forfor taking
taking intointo considerationconsideration aa policypolicy oror situationsituation oror statementstatement oror anyany otherother matter.matter. Amendments
Amendments toto substitutesubstitute motionsmotions areare notnot permissible.permissible. 3.
3. SubsidiarySubsidiary motionsmotions dependdepend uponupon oror relaterelate toto otherother motionsmotions oror followfollow upup onon somesome proceedings
proceedings inin thethe House.House. ByBy itself,itself, itit hashas nono meaningmeaning andand isis notnot capablecapable of of statingstating thethe decision
decision of of thethe HouseHouse withoutwithout referencereference toto thethe originaloriginal motionmotion oror thethe proceedingsproceedings of of thethe House.
House.
Adjournment
Adjournment MotionMotion isis thethe procedureprocedure forfor adjournmentadjournment of of thethe businessbusiness of of thethe HouseHouse forfor thethe purpose
purpose of of discussingdiscussing aa definitedefinite mattermatter of of urgenturgent publicpublic importance,importance, whichwhich cancan bebe movedmoved withwith the
the consentconsent of of thethe Speaker.Speaker.
•
• TheThe AdjournmentAdjournment Motion,Motion, if if admitted,admitted, leadsleads toto settingsetting asideaside of of thethe normalnormal businessbusiness of of thethe
House
House forfor discussingdiscussing thethe mattermatter mentionedmentioned inin thethe motion.motion.
•
• ToTo bebe inin order,order, anan adjournmentadjournment motionmotion mustmust raiseraise aa mattermatter of of sufficientsufficient publicpublic importanceimportance toto
warrant
warrant interruptioninterruption of of normalnormal businessbusiness of of thethe HouseHouse andand thethe questionquestion of of publicpublic importanceimportance is
is decideddecided onon meritmerit inin eacheach individualindividual case.case.
•
• TheThe purposepurpose of of anan AdjournmentAdjournment MotionMotion isis toto taketake thethe GovernmentGovernment toto tasktask forfor aa recentrecent actact of of
omission
omission oror commissioncommission havinghaving seriousserious consequences.consequences.
•
Motion
Motion of of NoNo
‐‐
confidenceconfidence•
• TheThe GovernmentGovernment mustmust alwaysalways enjoyenjoy majoritymajority supportsupport inin thethe popularpopular HouseHouse toto remainremain inin
power.
power. If If needneed be,be, itit hashas toto demonstratedemonstrate itsits strengthstrength onon thethe floorfloor of of thethe HouseHouse byby movingmoving aa Motion
Motion of of ConfidenceConfidence andand winningwinning thethe confidenceconfidence of of thethe House.House.
•
• InIn viewview of of thethe expressexpress constitutionalconstitutional provisionprovision regardingregarding collectivecollective responsibilityresponsibility of of thethe
Council
Council of of MinistersMinisters toto thethe LokLok Sabha,Sabha, aa motionmotion expressingexpressing wantwant of of confidenceconfidence inin anan individual
individual MinisterMinister isis outout of of order;order; underunder thethe Rules,Rules, onlyonly aa motionmotion expressingexpressing wantwant of of confidence
confidence inin thethe CouncilCouncil of of MinistersMinisters asas aa bodybody isis admissible.admissible.
•
• AA MotionMotion of of NoNo
‐‐
confidenceconfidence needneed notnot setset outout anyany groundsgrounds onon whichwhich itit isis based.based. •• EvenEven whenwhen groundsgrounds areare mentionedmentioned inin thethe noticenotice andand readread outout inin thethe House,House, theythey dodo notnot formform
part
part of of thethe NoNo
‐‐
confidenceconfidence Motion.Motion.No
No
‐‐
DayDay‐‐
YetYet‐‐
NamedNamed MotionMotion:: If If thethe SpeakerSpeaker admitsadmits noticenotice of of aa motionmotion andand nono datedate isis fixedfixed forfor itsits discussion,discussion, itit isis calledcalled aa "No"No
‐‐
DayDay‐‐
yetyet‐‐
NamedNamed Motion"Motion" andand aa copycopy of of thethe admittedadmitted motionmotion isisforwarded
forwarded toto thethe MinisterMinister concernedconcerned withwith thethe subjectsubject mattermatter of of thethe motion.motion.
Discussion
Discussion underunder RuleRule 193193
•
• doesdoes notnot involveinvolve aa formalformal motionmotion beforebefore thethe House.House. HenceHence nono votingvoting cancan taketake placeplace afterafter
discussion
discussion onon mattersmatters underunder thisthis rule.rule.
•
• TheThe membermember whowho givesgives noticenotice maymay makemake aa shortshort statementstatement andand suchsuch of of thethe membersmembers asas havehave
previously
previously intimatedintimated toto thethe Speaker,Speaker, maymay bebe permittedpermitted toto taketake partpart inin thethe discussion.discussion. TheThe member
member whowho raisesraises thethe discussiondiscussionhashas nono rightright of of replyreply..
•
• AtAt thethe endend of of thethe discussion,discussion, thethe MinisterMinister concernedconcerned givesgives aa brief brief reply.reply.
Short
Short DurationDuration DiscussionDiscussion:: InIn orderorder toto provideprovide opportunitiesopportunities toto membersmembers toto discussdiscuss mattersmatters of of urgent
urgent publicpublic importance,importance, aa conventionconvention waswas established.established. UnderUnder thisthis Rule,Rule, membersmembers cancan raiseraise discussion
discussion forfor shortshort durationsdurations withoutwithout aa formalformal motionmotion oror votevote thereon.thereon.
Matters
Matters underunder RuleRule 377377:: Matters,Matters, whichwhich areare notnot pointspoints of of orderorder cancan bebe raisedraised byby wayway of of SpecialSpecial Mentions
Mentions underunder RuleRule 377.377. ThisThis proceduralprocedural device,device, framedframed inin 1954,1954, providesprovides opportunityopportunity toto thethe members
members toto raiseraise mattersmatters of of generalgeneral publicpublic interest.interest. AtAt present,present, thethe numbernumber of of mattersmatters thatthat cancan be
be raisedraised byby membersmembers underunder RuleRule 377377 onon aa singlesingle dayday isis 20.20.
"Zero
"Zero Hour"Hour" :: TheThe timetime immediatelyimmediately followingfollowing thethe QuestionQuestion HourHour andand layinglaying of of paperspapers andand before
Hour'.
Hour'. ForFor raisingraising mattersmatters membersmembers givegive noticenotice beforebefore 1010 a.m.a.m. everydayeveryday toto thethe SpeakerSpeaker statingstating clearly
clearly thethe subjectsubject whichwhich theythey considerconsider toto bebe importantimportant andand wishwish toto raiseraise
Resolution Resolution
A
A ResolutionResolution isis aa formalformal expressionexpression of of thethe sense,sense, willwill oror actionaction of of thethe LegislativeLegislative Body.Body. Resolutions
Resolutions maymay bebe broadlybroadly divideddivided intointo threethree categories:categories:
•
• ResolutionsResolutions whichwhich areare expressionexpression of of opinionopinion byby thethe HouseHouse sincesince thethe purposepurpose of of suchsuch aa
Resolution
Resolution isis merelymerely toto obtainobtain anan expressionexpression of of opinionopinion of of thethe House,House, thethe GovernmentGovernment isis notnot bound
bound toto givegive effecteffect toto thethe opinionsopinions expressedexpressed inin thesethese Resolutions.Resolutions.
•
• ResolutionsResolutions whichwhich havehave statutorystatutory effecteffect the noticethe notice of of aa StatutoryStatutory ResolutionResolution isis givengiven inin
pursuance
pursuance of of aa provisionprovision inin thethe ConstitutionConstitution oror anan ActAct of of Parliament.Parliament. SuchSuch aa Resolution,Resolution, if if adopted,
adopted, isis bindingbinding onon thethe GovernmentGovernment andand hashas thethe forceforce of of law.law.
•
• ResolutionsResolutions whichwhich thethe HouseHouse passespasses inin the matterthe matter of of controlcontrol overover itsits ownown proceedingsproceedings.. ItIt
has
has thethe forceforce of of lawlaw andand itsits validityvalidity cannotcannot bebe challengedchallenged inin anyany courtcourt of of law.law. TheThe House,House, byby such
such aa Resolution,Resolution, evolves,evolves, sometimes,sometimes, itsits ownown procedureprocedure toto meetmeet aa situationsituation notnot specificallyspecifically provided
provided forfor inin thethe Rules.Rules.
Point
Point of of OrderOrder
•
• relatesrelates toto thethe interpretationinterpretation oror enforcementenforcement of of thethe RulesRules of of ProcedureProcedure andand ConductConduct of of
Business
Business inin thethe HouseHouse oror conventionconvention oror suchsuch articlesarticles of of thethe ConstitutionConstitution asas regulateregulate thethe business
business of of thethe HouseHouse andand raisesraises aa questionquestion whichwhich isis withinwithin thethe cognizancecognizance of of thethe Speaker.Speaker.
•
• AA PointPoint of of OrderOrder maymay bebe raisedraised onlyonly inin relationrelation toto thethe businessbusiness beforebefore thethe HouseHouse atat thethe
moment,
moment, providedprovided thatthat thethe SpeakerSpeaker maymay permitpermit aa membermember toto raiseraise aa PointPoint of of OrderOrder duringduring the
the intervalinterval betweenbetween thethe terminationtermination of of oneone itemitem of of businessbusiness andand thethe commencementcommencement of of another
another if if itit relatesrelates toto maintenancemaintenance of of orderorder in,in, oror arrangementarrangement of of businessbusiness before,before, thethe House.
House.
•
• AA membermember maymay formulateformulate aa PointPoint of of OrderOrder andand thethe SpeakerSpeaker shallshall decidedecide whetherwhether thethe pointpoint
raised
raised isis aa PointPoint of of OrderOrder andand if if soso givegive his/herhis/her decisiondecision thereon,thereon, whichwhich isis final.final.
Parliamentary
Parliamentary privilegesprivileges
•
• TheThe termterm `parliamentary`parliamentary privilege'privilege' refersrefers toto certaincertain rightsrights andand immunitiesimmunities enjoyedenjoyed byby eacheach
House
House of of ParliamentParliament andand CommitteesCommittees of of eacheach HouseHouse collectively,collectively, andand byby membersmembers of of eacheach House
House individually,individually, withoutwithout whichwhich theythey cannotcannot dischargedischarge theirtheir functionsfunctions efficientlyefficiently andand effectively.
•
• Objective:Objective: toto safeguardsafeguard thethe freedom,freedom, thethe authorityauthority andand thethe dignitydignity of of Parliament.Parliament. TheThe
powers,
powers, privilegesprivileges andand immunitiesimmunities of of eithereither HouseHouse of of ParliamentParliament andand of of itsits CommitteesCommittees andand members
members havehave beenbeen laidlaid downdown inin articlearticle 105105 of of thethe Constitution.Constitution.
•
• TheThe HouseHouse hashas thethe powerpower toto punishpunish anyany personperson whowho commitscommits aa contemptcontempt of of thethe HouseHouse oror aa
breach
breach of of anyany of of itsits privileges.privileges.
•
• Codification:Codification: NoNo lawlaw hashas soso farfar beenbeen enactedenacted byby ParliamentParliament inin pursuancepursuance of of articlearticle 105(3)105(3) of of
the
the ConstitutionConstitution toto definedefine thethe powers,powers, privilegesprivileges andand immunitiesimmunities availableavailable toto eacheach HouseHouse andand its
its membersmembers andand thethe CommitteesCommittees thereof.thereof. InIn thethe absenceabsence of of anyany suchsuch law,law, thethe powers,powers, privileges
privileges andand immunitiesimmunities of of thethe HousesHouses of of Parliament,Parliament, andand of of thethe membersmembers andand thethe Committees
Committees thereof,thereof, shallshall bebe thosethose of of thatthat HouseHouse andand of of itsits membersmembers andand CommitteesCommittees immediately
immediately beforebefore thethe comingcoming intointo forceforce of of sectionsection 1515 of of thethe ConstitutionConstitution (Forty(Forty
‐‐
fourthfourth Amendment)Amendment) Act,Act, 1978.1978.
Difference
Difference betweenbetween breachbreach of of privilegeprivilege andand contemptcontempt of of thethe House?House?
When
When anyany of of thethe privileges,privileges, eithereither of of thethe membersmembers individuallyindividually oror of of thethe HouseHouse inin itsits collectivecollective capacity,
capacity, isis disregardeddisregarded oror attackedattacked byby anyany individualindividual oror authority,authority, thethe offenceoffence isis calledcalled aa `breach`breach of
of privilege'.privilege'.
Contempt
Contempt of of thethe HouseHouse maymay bebe defineddefined generallygenerally asas anyany actact oror omissionomission whichwhich obstructsobstructs oror impedes
impedes eithereither HouseHouse of of ParliamentParliament inin thethe performanceperformance of of itsits functions,functions, oror whichwhich obstructsobstructs oror impedes
impedes anyany membermember oror officersofficers of of suchsuch HouseHouse inin thethe dischargedischarge of of hishis oror herher duty,duty, oror whichwhich hashas aa tendency,
tendency, directlydirectly oror indirectly,indirectly, toto produceproduce suchsuch resultsresults eveneven thoughthough therethere isis nono precedentprecedent of of thethe offence.
offence. WhereasWhereas allall breachesbreaches of of privilegeprivilege areare contemptscontempts of of thethe HouseHouse whosewhose privilegesprivileges areare violated,
violated, aa personperson maymay bebe guiltyguilty of of aa contemptcontempt of of thethe HouseHouse eveneven thoughthough hehe doesdoes notnot violateviolate anyany of
of thethe privilegeprivilege of of thethe House,House, e.g.e.g. whwhenen hehe disobeysdisobeys anan orderorder toto attendattend aa CommitteeCommittee oror publishespublishes reflections
reflections onon thethe charactercharacter oror conductconduct of of aa membermember inin hishis capacitycapacity asas aa member.member.
Relation
Relation betweenbetween thethe twotwo HousesHouses
•
• UnderUnder articlearticle 75(3)75(3) of of thethe Constitution,Constitution, thethe CouncilCouncil of of MinistersMinisters isis collectivelycollectively responsibleresponsible toto
Lok
Lok SabhaSabha whichwhich meansmeans RajyaRajya SabhaSabha cannotcannot makemake oror unmakeunmake thethe Government.Government. ItIt can,can, however,
however, exerciseexercise controlcontrol overover thethe GovernmentGovernment andand thisthis functionfunction becomesbecomes quitequite prominent,prominent, particularly
particularly whenwhen thethe GovernmentGovernment doesdoes notnot enjoyenjoy majoritymajority inin RajyaRajya Sabha.Sabha.
•
• ToTo resolveresolve aa deadlockdeadlock betweenbetween thethe twotwo Houses,Houses, inin casecase of of anan ordinaryordinary legislation,legislation, thethe
Constitution
Constitution providesprovides forfor thethe joint joint sittingsitting of of bothboth Houses.Houses. InIn fact,fact, therethere havehave beenbeen threethree occasions
occasions inin thethe pastpast whenwhen thethe HousesHouses of of ParliamentParliament hadhad metmet inin joint joint sittingsitting toto resolveresolve differences
number
number of of membersmembers of of bothboth HousesHouses presentpresent andand voting.voting. TheThe joint joint sittingsitting isis heldheld inin thethe CentralCentral Hall
Hall of of ParliamentParliament HouseHouse presidedpresided overover byby thethe Speaker,Speaker, LokLok Sabha.Sabha. However,However, inin thethe casecase of of aa Money
Money Bill,Bill, therethere isis nono provisionprovision inin thethe ConstitutionConstitution forfor aa joint joint sittingsitting of of bothboth HousesHouses asas LokLok Sabha
Sabha clearlyclearly enjoysenjoys prepre
‐‐
eminenceeminence overover RajyaRajya SabhaSabha inin financialfinancial matters.matters. AsAs regardsregards aa ConstitutionConstitution amendmentamendment Bill,Bill, itit hashas beenbeen providedprovided inin thethe ConstitutionConstitution thatthat suchsuch aa BillBill hashas toto be
be passedpassed byby thethe specificspecific majority,majority, asas prescribedprescribed underunder articlearticle 368368 of of thethe Constitution,Constitution, byby both
both Houses.Houses. ThereThere is,is, therefore,therefore, nono provisionprovision forfor resolvingresolving aa deadlockdeadlock betweenbetween thethe twotwo Houses
Houses inin regardregard toto aa ConstitutionConstitution amendmentamendment Bill.Bill.
•
• MinistersMinisters maymay belongbelong toto eithereither HouseHouse of of Parliament.Parliament. TheThe ConstitutionConstitution doesdoes notnot makemake anyany
distinction
distinction betweenbetween thethe HousesHouses inin thisthis regard.regard. EveryEvery MinisterMinister hashas thethe rightright toto speakspeak andand taketake part
part inin thethe proceedingsproceedings of of eithereither HouseHouse butbut hehe isis entitledentitled toto votevote onlyonly inin thethe HouseHouse of of whichwhich he
he isis aa member.member.
•
• Similarly,Similarly, withwith regardregard toto powers,powers, privilegesprivileges andand immunitiesimmunities of of thethe HousesHouses of of Parliament,Parliament, theirtheir
members
members andand committeescommittees thereof,thereof, thethe twotwo HousesHouses areare placedplaced absolutelyabsolutely onon equalequal footingfooting byby the
the Constitution.Constitution.
•
• OtherOther importantimportant mattersmatters inin respectrespect of of whichwhich bothboth HousesHouses enjoyenjoy equalequal powerspowers areare electionelection
and
and impeachmentimpeachment of of thethe President,President, electionelection of of thethe ViceVice
‐‐
President,President, approvingapproving thethe ProclamationProclamation of of Emergency,Emergency, thethe proclamationproclamation regardingregarding failurefailure of of constitutionalconstitutional machinerymachinery inin States
States andand financialfinancial emergency.emergency. InIn respectrespect of of receivingreceiving reportsreports andand paperspapers fromfrom variousvarious statutory
statutory authorities,authorities, etc.,etc., bothboth HousesHouses havehave equalequal powers.powers.
•
• ItIt isis thusthus clearclear thatthat exceptexcept inin thethe casecase of of collectivecollective responsibilityresponsibility of of thethe CouncilCouncil of of MinistersMinisters
and
and certaincertain financialfinancial matters,matters, whichwhich fallfall inin thethe domaindomain of of LokLok SabhaSabha only,only, bothboth HousesHouses enjoyenjoy equal
equal powers.powers.
Special
Special PowersPowers of of RajyaRajya SabhaSabha
•
• RajyaRajya SabhaSabha beingbeing aa federalfederal chamberchamber enjoysenjoys certaincertain specialspecial powerspowers underunder thethe Constitution.Constitution.
All
All thethe subjects/areassubjects/areas regardingregarding legislationlegislation havehave beenbeen divideddivided intointo threethree ListsLists
‐‐
UnionUnion List,List, StateState ListList andand concurrentconcurrent List.List. UnionUnion andand StateState ListsLists areare mutuallymutually exclusiveexclusive
‐‐
oneone cannotcannot legislatelegislate onon aa mattermatter placedplaced inin thethe spheresphere of of thethe other.other. However,However, if if RajyaRajya SabhaSabha passespasses aa resolution
resolution byby aa majoritymajority of of notnot lessless thanthan twotwo
‐‐
thirdsthirds of of membersmembers presentpresent andand votingvoting sayingsaying thatthat itit isis “necessary“necessary oror expedientexpedient inin thethe nationalnational interest”interest” thatthat ParliamentParliament shouldshould makemake aa lawlaw on
on aa mattermatter enumeratedenumerated inin thethe StateState List,List, ParliamentParliament becomesbecomes empoweredempowered toto makemake aa lawlaw onon the
the subjectsubject specifiedspecified inin thethe resolution,resolution, forfor thethe wholewhole oror anyany partpart of of thethe territoryterritory of of India.India. Such
Such aa resolutionresolution remainsremains inin forceforce forfor aa maximummaximum periodperiod of of oneone yearyear butbut thisthis periodperiod cancan bebe extended
•
• If If RajyaRajya SabhaSabha passespasses aa resolutionresolution byby aa majoritymajority of of notnot lessless thanthan twotwo
‐‐
thirdsthirds of of thethe membersmemberspresent
present andand votingvoting declaringdeclaring thatthat itit isis necessarynecessary oror expedientexpedient inin thethe nationalnational interestinterest toto create
create oneone oror moremore AllAll IndiaIndia ServicesServices commoncommon toto thethe UnionUnion andand thethe States,States, ParliamentParliament becomes
becomes empoweredempowered toto createcreate byby lawlaw suchsuch services.services.
•
• UnderUnder thethe Constitution,Constitution, thethe PresidentPresident isis empoweredempowered toto issueissue ProclamationsProclamations inin thethe eventevent of of
national
national emergency,emergency, inin thethe eventevent of of failurefailure of of constitutionalconstitutional machinerymachinery inin aa State,State, oror inin thethe case
case of of financialfinancial emergency.emergency. EveryEvery suchsuch proclamationproclamation hashas toto bebe approvedapproved byby bothboth HousesHouses of of Parliament
Parliament withinwithin aa stipulatedstipulated period.period. UnderUnder certaincertain circumstances,circumstances, however,however, RajyaRajya SabhaSabha enjoys
enjoys specialspecial powerspowers inin thisthis regard.regard. If If aa ProclamationProclamation isis issuedissued atat aa timetime whenwhen LokLok SabhaSabha hashas been
been dissolveddissolved oror thethe dissolutiondissolution of of LokLok SabhaSabha takestakes placeplace withinwithin thethe periodperiod allowedallowed forfor itsits approval,
approval, thenthen thethe proclamationproclamation remainsremains effective,effective, if if thethe resolutionresolution approvingapproving itit isis passedpassed byby Rajya
Rajya SabhaSabha withinwithin thethe periodperiod specifiedspecified inin thethe ConstitutionConstitution underunder articlesarticles 352,352, 356356 andand 360.360.
Rajya
Rajya SabhaSabha inin FinancialFinancial MattersMatters
•
• AA MoneyMoney BillBill cancan bebe introducedintroduced onlyonly inin LokLok Sabha.Sabha. AfterAfter itit isis passedpassed byby thatthat House,House, itit isis
transmitted
transmitted toto RajyaRajya SabhaSabha forfor itsits concurrenceconcurrence oror recommendation.recommendation. TheThe powerpower of of RajyaRajya Sabha
Sabha inin respectrespect of of suchsuch aa BillBill isis limited.limited. RajyaRajya SabhaSabha hashas toto returnreturn suchsuch aa BillBill toto LokLok SabhaSabha within
within aa periodperiod of of fourteenfourteen daysdays fromfrom itsits receipt.receipt. If If itit isis notnot returnedreturned toto LokLok SabhaSabha withinwithin thatthat ti
time,me, thethe BillBill isis deemeddeemed toto havehave beenbeen passedpassed byby bothboth HousesHouses atat thethe expirationexpiration of of thethe saidsaid period
period inin thethe formform inin whichwhich itit waswas passedpassed byby LokLok Sabha.Sabha. Again,Again, RajyaRajya SabhaSabha cannotcannot amendamend aa Money
Money Bill;Bill; itit cancan onlyonly recommendrecommend amendmentsamendments andand LokLok SabhaSabha maymay eithereither acceptaccept oror rejectreject all
all oror anyany of of thethe recommendationsrecommendations mademade byby RajyaRajya Sabha.Sabha.
•
• ApartApart fromfrom aa MoneyMoney Bill,Bill, certaincertain otherother categoriescategories of of FinancialFinancial BillsBills alsoalso cannotcannot bebe introducedintroduced
in
in RajyaRajya Sabha.Sabha. ThereThere are,are, however,however, somesome otherother typestypes of of FinancialFinancial BillsBills onon whichwhich therethere isis nono limitation
limitation onon thethe powerspowers of of thethe RajRajyaya Sabha.Sabha. TheseThese BillsBills maymay bebe initiatedinitiated inin eithereither HouseHouse andand Rajya
Rajya SabhaSabha hashas powerspowers toto rejectreject oror amendamend suchsuch FinancialFinancial BillsBills likelike anyany otherother Bill.Bill. Of Of course,course, such
such BillsBills cannotcannot bebe passedpassed byby eithereither HouseHouse of of ParliamentParliament unlessunless thethe PresidentPresident hashas recommended
recommended toto thatthat HouseHouse thethe considerationconsideration thereof.thereof.
•
• FromFrom allall this,this, however,however, itit doesdoes notnot followfollow thatthat RajyaRajya SabhaSabha hashas nothingnothing toto dodo inin mattersmatters
relating
relating toto finance.finance. TheThe BudgetBudget of of thethe GovernmentGovernment of of IndiaIndia isis laidlaid everyevery yearyear beforebefore RajyaRajya Sabha
Sabha alsoalso andand itsits membersmembers discussdiscuss it.it. ThoughThough RajyaRajya SabhaSabha doesdoes notnot votevote onon DemandsDemands forfor Grants
Grants of of variousvarious MinistriesMinistries
‐‐
aa mattermatter exclusivelyexclusively reservedreserved forfor LokLok SabhaSabha‐‐
nono money,money, however,however, cancan bebe withdrawnwithdrawn fromfrom thethe ConsolidatedConsolidated FundFund of of IndiaIndia unlessunless thethe AppropriationAppropriation BillBill has
has beenbeen passedpassed byby bothboth thethe Houses.Houses. Similarly,Similarly, thethe FinanceFinance BillBill isis alsoalso broughtbrought beforebefore RajyaRajya Sabha.
the
the annualannual DemandsDemands forfor GrantsGrants of of thethe Ministries/DepartmentsMinistries/Departments areare joint joint committeescommittees havinghaving ten
ten membersmembers fromfrom RajyaRajya Sabha.Sabha.
Allocation
Allocation of of SeatsSeats
The
The FourthFourth ScheduleSchedule toto thethe ConstitutionConstitution providesprovides forfor allocationallocation of of seatsseats toto thethe StatesStates andand UnionUnion Territories
Territories inin RajyaRajya Sabha.Sabha. TheThe allocationallocation of of seatsseats isis mademade onon thethe basisbasis of of thethe populationpopulation of of eacheach State.
State. ConsequentConsequent onon thethe reorganizationreorganization of of StatesStates andand formationformation of of newnew States,States, thethe numbernumber of of elected
elected seatsseats inin thethe RajyaRajya SabhaSabha allottedallotted toto StatesStates andand UnionUnion TerritoriesTerritories hashas changedchanged fromfrom timetime to
to timetime sincesince 1952.1952.
Eligibility Eligibility
Qualifications Qualifications
Article
Article 8484 of of thethe ConstitutionConstitution layslays downdown thethe qualificationsqualifications forfor membershipmembership of of Parliament.Parliament. AA person
person toto bebe qualifiedqualified forfor thethe membershipmembership of of thethe RajyaRajya SabhaSabha shouldshould possesposses thethe followingfollowing qualifications:
qualifications:
1.
1. hehe mustmust bebe aa citizencitizen of of IndiaIndia andand makemake andand subscribesubscribe beforebefore somesome personperson authorizedauthorized inin thatthat behalf
behalf byby thethe ElectionElection CommissionCommission anan oathoath oror affirmationaffirmation accordingaccording toto thethe formform setset outout forfor the
the purposepurpose inin thethe ThirdThird ScheduleSchedule toto thethe Constitution;Constitution; 2.
2. hehe mustmust bebe notnot lessless thanthan 3030 yearsyears of of age;age; 3.
3. hehe mustmust possesspossess suchsuch otherother qualificationsqualifications asas maymay bebe prescribedprescribed inin thatthat behalf behalf byby oror underunder anyany law
law mademade byby Parliament.Parliament.
Disqualifications Disqualifications
Article
Article 102102 of of thethe ConstitutionConstitution layslays downdown thatthat aa personperson shallshall bebe disqualifieddisqualified forfor beingbeing chosenchosen as,as, and
and forfor being,being, aa membermember of of eithereither HouseHouse of of ParliamentParliament – –
1.
1. if if hehe holdsholds anyany officeoffice of of profitprofit underunder thethe GovernmentGovernment of of IndiaIndia oror thethe GovernmentGovernment of of anyany State,
State, otherother thanthan anan officeoffice declareddeclared byby ParliamentParliament byby lawlaw nonott toto disqualifydisqualify itsits holder;holder; 2.
2. if if hehe isis of of unsoundunsound mindmind andand standsstands soso declareddeclared byby aa competentcompetent court;court; 3.
3. if if hehe isis anan undischargedundischarged insolvent;insolvent; 4.
4. if if hehe isis notnot aa citizencitizen of of India,India, oror hashas voluntarilyvoluntarily acquiredacquired thethe citizenshipcitizenship of of aa foreignforeign State,State, oror isis under
under anyany acknowledgementacknowledgement of of allegianceallegiance oror adherenceadherence toto aa foreignforeign State;State; 5.
Explanation
Explanation
‐‐
ForFor thethe purposepurpose of of thisthis clauseclause aa personperson shallshall notnot bebe deemeddeemed toto holdhold anan officeoffice of of profitprofit underunder thethe GovernmentGovernment of of IndiaIndia oror thethe GovernmentGovernment of of anyany StateState byby reasonreason onlyonly thatthat hehe isis aa Minister
Minister eithereither forfor thethe UnionUnion oror forfor suchsuch State.State.
•
• Besides,Besides, thethe TenthTenth ScheduleSchedule toto ConstitutionConstitution providesprovides forfor disqualificationdisqualification of of thethe membersmembers onon
ground
ground of of defection.defection. AsAs perper thethe provisionsprovisions of of thethe TenthTenth Schedule,Schedule, aa membermember maymay bebe disqualified
disqualified asas aa member,member, if if hehe voluntarilyvoluntarily givesgives upup thethe membershipmembership of of hishis politicalpolitical party;party; oror if if he
he votesvotes oror abstainsabstains fromfrom votingvoting inin thethe HouseHouse contrarycontrary toto anyany didirectionrection issuedissued byby thethe politicalpolitical party
party toto whichwhich hehe belongs,belongs, unlessunless suchsuch votingvoting oror abstentionabstention hashas beenbeen condonedcondoned byby thethe political
political partyparty withinwithin fifteenfifteen days.days. AA membermember electedelected asas anan independentindependent candidatecandidate shallshall bebe disqualified
disqualified if if hehe joins joins anyany politicalpolitical partyparty afterafter hishis election.election.
•
• AA membermember nominatednominated toto thethe HouseHouse byby thethe President,President, however,however, isis allowedallowed toto join join aa politicalpolitical
party
party if if he/shehe/she doesdoes soso withinwithin thethe firstfirst sixsix monthsmonths of of takingtaking seatseat inin thethe House.House.
•
• AA membermember shallshall notnot bebe disqualifieddisqualified onon thisthis account,account, if if hehe voluntarilyvoluntarily leavesleaves thethe membershipmembership
of
of hishis politicalpolitical partyparty afterafter hehe isis electedelected DeputyDeputy Chairman,Chairman, RajyaRajya Sabha.Sabha.
History History
Extensive
Extensive debatedebate tooktook placeplace inin thethe ConstituentConstituent AssemblyAssembly regardingregarding thethe utilityutility oror otherwiseotherwise of of aa Second
Second ChamberChamber inin IndependentIndependent IndiaIndia andand ultimately,ultimately, itit waswas decideddecided toto havehave aa bicameralbicameral legislature
legislature forfor independentindependent IndiaIndia mainlymainly becausebecause aa federalfederal systemsystem waswas consideredconsidered toto bebe mostmost feasible
feasible formform of of GovernmentGovernment forfor suchsuch aa vastvast countrycountry withwith immenseimmense diversities.diversities. AA singlesingle directlydirectly elected
elected House,House, inin fact,fact, waswas consideredconsidered inadequateinadequate toto meetmeet thethe challengeschallenges beforebefore freefree India.India. AA second
second chamberchamber knownknown asas thethe ‘Council‘Council of of States’,States’, therefore,therefore, waswas createdcreated withwith altogetheraltogether different
different compositioncomposition andand methodmethod of of electionelection fromfrom thatthat of of thethe directlydirectly electedelected HouseHouse of of thethe People.
People. ItIt waswas conceivedconceived asas anotheranother Chamber,Chamber, withwith smallersmaller membershipmembership thanthan thethe LokLok SabhaSabha (House
(House of of thethe People).People). ItIt waswas meantmeant toto bebe thethe federalfederal chamberchamber i.e.,i.e., aa HouseHouse electedelected byby thethe elected
elected membersmembers of of AssembliesAssemblies of of thethe StatesStates andand twotwo UnionUnion TerritoriesTerritories inin whichwhich StatesStates werewere notnot given
given equalequal representation.representation. ApartApart fromfrom thethe electedelected members,members, provisionprovision waswas alsoalso mademade forfor thethe nomination
nomination of of twelvetwelve membersmembers toto thethe HouseHouse byby thethe President.President. TheThe minimumminimum ageage of of thirtythirty yearsyears was
was fixedfixed forfor membershipmembership asas againstagainst twentytwenty
‐‐
five yearsfive years forfor thethe LowerLower House.House. TheThe elementelement of of dignitydignity andand prestigeprestige waswas addedadded toto thethe CouncilCouncil of of StateState HouseHouse byby makingmaking thethe ViceVice
‐‐
PresidentPresident of of IndiaCOMMITTEES
COMMITTEES OFOF RAJYARAJYA SABHASABHA
Introduction Introduction
Parliamentary
Parliamentary CommitteesCommittees playplay aa vitalvital rolerole inin thethe ParliamentaryParliamentary System.System. TheyThey areare aa vibrantvibrant linklink between
between thethe Parliament,Parliament, thethe ExecutiveExecutive andand thethe generalgeneral public.public. TheThe needneed forfor CommitteesCommittees arisesarises out
out of of twotwo factors,factors, thethe firstfirst oneone beingbeing thethe needneed forfor vigilancevigilance onon thethe partpart of of thethe LegislatureLegislature overover the
the actionsactions of of thethe Executive,Executive, whilewhile thethe secondsecond oneone isis thatthat thethe modernmodern LegislatureLegislature thesethese daysdays isis over
over
‐‐
burdenedburdened withwith heavyheavy volumevolume of of workwork withwith limitedlimited timetime atat itsits disposal.disposal. ItIt thusthus becomesbecomesimpossible
impossible thatthat everyevery mattermatter shouldshould bebe thoroughlythoroughly andand systematicallysystematically scrutinisedscrutinised andand consideredconsidered on
on thethe floorfloor of of thethe House.House. If If thethe workwork isis toto bebe donedone withwith reasonablereasonable care,care, naturallynaturally somesome Parliamentary
Parliamentary responsibilityresponsibility hashas toto bebe entrustedentrusted toto anan agencyagency inin whichwhich thethe wholewhole HouseHouse hashas confidence.
confidence. EntrustingEntrusting certaincertain functionsfunctions of of thethe HouseHouse toto thethe CommitteesCommittees has,has, therefore,therefore, becomebecome a
a normalnormal practice.practice. ThisThis hashas becomebecome allall thethe moremore necessarynecessary asas aa CommitteeCommittee providesprovides thethe expertiseexpertise on
on aa mattermatter whichwhich isis referredreferred toto it.it. InIn aa Committee,Committee, thethe mattermatter isis deliberateddeliberated atat length,length, viewsviews areare expressed
expressed freely,freely, thethe mattermatter isis consideredconsidered inin depth,depth, inin aa businessbusiness
‐‐
likelike mannermanner andand inin aa calmercalmer atmosphere.atmosphere. InIn mostmost of of thethe Committees,Committees, publicpublic isis directlydirectly oror indirectlyindirectly associatedassociated whenwhen memoranda
memoranda containingcontaining suggestionssuggestions areare received,received, onon
‐‐
thethe‐‐
spotspot studiesstudies areare conductedconducted andand oraloral evidenceevidence isis takentaken whichwhich helpshelps thethe CommitteesCommittees inin arrivingarriving atat thethe conclusions.conclusions.
The
The CommitteesCommittees aidaid andand assistassist thethe LegislatureLegislature inin dischargingdischarging itsits dutiesduties andand regulatingregulating itsits functionsfunctions effectively,
effectively, expeditiouslyexpeditiously andand efficiently.efficiently. ThroughThrough Committees,Committees, ParliamentParliament exercisesexercises itsits controlcontrol and
and influenceinfluence overover administration.administration. ParliamentaryParliamentary CommitteesCommittees havehave aa salutarysalutary effecteffect onon thethe Executive.
Executive. TheThe CommitteesCommittees areare notnot meantmeant toto weakenweaken thethe administration,administration, insteadinstead theythey preventprevent misuse
misuse of of powerpower exercisableexercisable byby thethe Executive.Executive. ItIt may,may, however,however, bebe rememberedremembered thatthat Parliamentary
Parliamentary controlcontrol inin thethe contextcontext of of thethe functioningfunctioning of of thethe CommitteesCommittees maymay meanmean influence,influence, not
not directdirect control;control; advice,advice, notnot command;command; criticism,criticism, notnot obstruction;obstruction; scrutiny,scrutiny, notnot initiative;initiative; andand accountability,
accountability, notnot priorprior approval.approval. This,This, inin brief,brief, isis thethe rationalerationale of of thethe CommitteeCommittee System.System. TheThe Committees
Committees havehave functionedfunctioned inin aa nonnon
‐‐
partisanpartisan mannermanner andand theirtheir deliberationsdeliberations andand conclusionsconclusionshave
have beenbeen objective.objective. This,This, inin aa largelarge measure,measure, accountsaccounts forfor thethe respectrespect inin whichwhich thethe recommendations
recommendations of of thethe ParliamentaryParliamentary CommitteesCommittees areare held.held.
Types
Types of of CommitteesCommittees
Rajya
Rajya SabhaSabha possessespossesses anan organisedorganised systemsystem of of Committees.Committees. Appointments,Appointments, termterm of of office,office, functions
functions andand procedureprocedure forfor conductingconducting businessbusiness inin thesethese CommitteesCommittees areare regulatedregulated underunder thethe provisions
The
The CommitteesCommittees maymay bebe classifiedclassified asas Ad Ad hoc hoc CommitteesCommittees andand StandingStanding CommitteesCommittees..
•
• Ad Ad hochocCommitteesCommittees areare appointedappointed fromfrom timetime toto timetime toto enquireenquire intointo specificspecific subjects.subjects. •
• TheyThey areare notnot namednamed asas suchsuch inin thethe RulesRules of of ProcedureProcedure of of RajyaRajya SabhaSabha butbut comecome intointo beingbeing onon
a
a specificspecific motionmotion andand becomebecome functus functus officioofficioimmediatelyimmediately afterafter reportingreporting toto thethe HouseHouse onon matters
matters assignedassigned toto them.them.
•
• Ad Ad hochocCommitteesCommittees areare generallygenerally SelectSelect CommitteesCommittees andand JointJoint SelectSelect CommitteesCommittees onon Bills.Bills.
The
The secondsecond categorycategory of of Committees,Committees, namely,namely, StandingStanding CommitteesCommittees maymay bebe divideddivided inin termsterms of of their
their functionsfunctions underunder fourfour broadbroad heads:heads:
1.
1.CommitteesCommittees toto enquire—enquire— (a)
(a) CommitteeCommittee onon Petitions;Petitions; (b)
(b) CommitteeCommittee of of Privileges;Privileges; andand (c)
(c) EthicsEthics Committee.Committee. 2.
2.CommitteesCommittees toto scrutinisescrutinise andand control—control— (a)
(a) CommitteeCommittee onon GovernmentGovernment Assurances;Assurances; (b)
(b) CommitteeCommittee onon SubordinateSubordinate Legislation;Legislation; andand (c)
(c) CommitteeCommittee onon PapersPapers LaidLaid onon thethe Table.Table. 3.
3.CommitteesCommittees relatingrelating toto dayday
‐‐
toto‐‐
dayday businessbusiness of of thethe House—House— (a)(a) BusinessBusiness AdvisoryAdvisory Committee;Committee; andand (b)
(b) RulesRules Committee.Committee. 4.
4.HouseHouse KeepingKeeping Committees—Committees— (a)
(a) HouseHouse Committee;Committee; (b)
(b) GeneralGeneral PurposesPurposes Committee;Committee; andand (c)
(c) CommitteeCommittee onon ProvisionProvision of of ComputersComputers toto MembersMembers of of RajyaRajya Sabha.Sabha.
There
There areare somesomeFinancialFinancial CommitteesCommittees of of LokLok SabhaSabhawithwith whichwhich MembersMembers of of RajyaRajya SabhaSabha areare associated.
associated. TheseThese are:are:
(a)
(a) CommitteeCommittee onon PublicPublic Accounts;Accounts; andand (b)
(b) CommitteeCommittee onon PublicPublic Undertakings.Undertakings.
There
There areare alsoalsoJointJoint ParliamentaryParliamentary CommitteesCommitteesonon whichwhich membersmembers of of bothboth thethe HousesHouses areare represented.
(a)
(a) CommitteeCommittee onon thethe WelfareWelfare of of ScheduledScheduled CastesCastes andand ScheduledScheduled Tribes;Tribes; (b)
(b) CommitteeCommittee onon OfficesOffices of of Profit;Profit; (c)
(c) [Parliamentary[Parliamentary CommitteeCommittee toto reviewreview thethe raterate of of dividenddividend payablepayable byby thethe RailwayRailway UndertakingUndertaking to
to thethe GeneralGeneral Revenues]Revenues] (Railway(Railway ConventionConvention Committee);Committee); (d)
(d) CommitteeCommittee onon EmpowermentEmpowerment of of WomenWomen (e)Library
(e)Library CommitteeCommittee (f)
(f) CommitteeCommittee onon FoodFood ManagementManagement inin ParliamentParliament HouseHouse ComplexComplex (g)
(g) CommitteeCommittee onon InstallationInstallation of of Portraits/StatuesPortraits/Statues of of NationalNational LeadersLeaders andand ParliamentariansParliamentarians inin thethe Parliament
Parliament HouseHouse ComplexComplex (h)
(h) CommitteeCommittee onon SecuritySecurity MattersMatters inin ParliamentParliament HouseHouse ComplexComplex
The
The functions,functions, etc.etc. of of eacheach of of thesethese CommitteesCommittees areare describeddescribed belowbelow inin brief:—brief:—
(1)
(1)BusinessBusiness Advisory Advisory Committee—Committee—ThisThis CommitteeCommittee recommendsrecommends thethe timetime thatthat shouldshould bebe allocated
allocated forfor thethe discussiondiscussion of of thethe stagestage oror stagesstages of of suchsuch GovernmentGovernment BillsBills andand otherother businessbusiness asas the
the ChairmanChairman inin consultationconsultation withwith thethe LeaderLeader of of thethe HouseHouse maymay directdirect forfor beingbeing referredreferred toto thethe Committee.
Committee. TheThe CommitteeCommittee alsoalso recommendsrecommends thethe timetime thatthat shouldshould bebe allocatedallocated forfor ththee discussion
discussion of of stagestage oror stagesstages of of privateprivate Members'Members' BillsBills andand Resolutions.Resolutions. ItIt hashas thethe powerpower toto indicate
indicate inin thethe proposedproposed timetime
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tabletable thethe differentdifferent hourshours atat whichwhich thethe variousvarious stagesstages of of thethe BillBill oror otherother businessbusiness areare toto bebe completed.completed.
(2)
(2)Committee onCommitteeon PapersPapers Laid Laid onon thethe Table—Table—TheThe functionfunction of of thethe CommitteeCommittee isis toto consider,consider, afterafter a
a paperpaper isis laidlaid beforebefore thethe CouncilCouncil byby aa MinisterMinister whetherwhether ::
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(a)
(a) therethere hashas beenbeen compliancecompliance withwith thethe provisionsprovisions of of thethe ConstitutionConstitution oror anan ActAct of of Parliament
Parliament oror anyany otherother law,law, rulerule oror regulationsregulations inin pursuancepursuance of of whichwhich thethe paperpaper hashas beenbeen soso lalaid;id;
(b)
(b) therethere hashas beenbeen anyany unreasonableunreasonable delaydelay inin layinglaying thethe paperpaper beforebefore thethe CouncilCouncil andand if if so,
so, whetherwhether aa statementstatement explainingexplaining thethe reasonsreasons forfor suchsuch delaydelay hashas alsoalso beenbeen laidlaid beforebefore thethe Council
Council alongalong withwith thethe paperpaper andand whetherwhether thosethose reasonsreasons areare satisfactory;satisfactory; andand
(c)
(c) thethe paperpaper hashas bebeenen laidlaid beforebefore thethe CouncilCouncil bothboth inin EnglishEnglish andand HindiHindi andand if if not,not, whether
whether aa statementstatement explainingexplaining thethe reasonsreasons forfor notnot layinglaying thethe paperpaper inin HindiHindi hashas alsoalso beenbeen laidlaid before
(3)
(3)CommitteeCommittee onon Petitions—Petitions—TheThe functionsfunctions of of thethe CommitteeCommittee are:are: (a)(a) toto examineexamine everyevery petitionpetition referred
referred toto it,it, andand if if thethe petitionpetition compliescomplies withwith thethe rules,rules, toto directdirect thatthat itit bebe circulatedcirculated in
inextensoextensooror inin summarysummary form,form, asas thethe casecase maymay be;be; andand (b)(b) toto reportreport toto thethe HouseHouse onon specificspecific complaints
complaints mademade inin thethe petitionpetition afterafter takingtaking suchsuch evidenceevidence asas itit deemsdeems fitfit andand toto suggestsuggest remedial
remedial measures,measures, eithereither inin aa concreteconcrete formform applicableapplicable toto thethe casecase underunder considerationconsideration oror toto prevent
prevent recurrencerecurrence of of suchsuch casecase
(4)
(4)Committee of Committeeof Privileges—Privileges—TheThe CommitteeCommittee examinesexamines everyevery questionquestion of of privilegeprivilege referredreferred toto itit either
either byby thethe HouseHouse oror byby thethe ChairmanChairman andand determinesdetermines withwith referencereference toto thethe factsfacts of of eacheach case,case, whether
whether aa breachbreach of of privilegeprivilege isis involvedinvolved and,and, if if so,so, thethe naturenature of of thethe breach,breach, thethe circumstancescircumstances leading
leading toto itit andand makesmakes suchsuch recommendationsrecommendations asas itit deemsdeems fit.fit. TheThe CommitteeCommittee cancan alsoalso reportreport toto the
the HouseHouse thethe procedureprocedure thatthat maymay bebe followedfollowed byby thethe HouseHouse inin givinggiving effecteffect toto thethe recommendations
recommendations mademade byby thethe Committee.Committee.
(5)
(5)Committee onCommittee on Rules——Rules——TheThe CommitteeCommittee considersconsiders mattersmatters of of procedureprocedure andand conductconduct of of business
businessinin RajyaRajya SabhaSabha andand recommendsrecommends anyany amendmentsamendments oror additionsadditions toto thethe rulesrules thatthat maymay bebe deemed
deemed necessary.necessary.
(6)
(6)Committee onCommitteeon SubordinateSubordinate Legislation——Legislation——The functionsThefunctions of of thethe CommitteeCommittee areare toto scrutinisescrutinise and
and reportreport toto RajyaRajya SabhaSabha whetherwhether thethe powerspowers toto makemake rules,rules, regulations,regulations, byebye
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laws,laws, schemescheme oror otherother statutorystatutory instrumentsinstruments conferredconferred byby thethe ConstitutionConstitution oror delegateddelegated byby ParliamentParliament areare beingbeing properly
properly exercisedexercised withinwithin suchsuch confermentconferment oror delegation,delegation, asas thethe casecase maymay be.be.
The
The CommitteeCommittee examinesexamines suchsuch rule,rule, regulation,regulation, byebye
‐‐
law,law, schemescheme oror otherother statutorystatutory instrumentinstrument framedframed inin pursuancepursuance of of thethe ConstitutionConstitution oror thethe legislativelegislative functionsfunctions delegateddelegated byby ParliamentParliament toto aa subordinate
subordinate authority,authority, irrespectiveirrespective of of thethe factfact whetherwhether itit isis requiredrequired toto bebe laidlaid beforebefore thethe HouseHouse or
or notnot and,and, inin particular,particular, considers:considers: (a)(a) whetherwhether itit isis inin accordaccord withwith thethe generalgeneral objectsobjects of of thethe Constitution,
Constitution, oror thethe ActAct pursuantpursuant toto whichwhich itit isis made;made; (b)(b) whetherwhether itit containscontains mattermatter whichwhich inin thethe opinion
opinion of of thethe CommitteeCommittee shouldshould moremore properlyproperly bebe dealtdealt withinwithin anan ActAct of of Parliament;Parliament; (c)(c) whetherwhether it
it containscontains impositionimposition of of anyany tax;tax; (d)(d) whetherwhether itit directlydirectly oror indirectlyindirectly barsbars thethe jurisdiction jurisdiction of of thethe Courts;
Courts; (e)(e) whetherwhether itit givesgives retrospectiveretrospective effecteffect toto anyany of of thethe provisionsprovisions inin respectrespect of of whichwhich thethe Constitution
Constitution oror thethe ActAct pursuantpursuant toto whichwhich itit isis mademade doesdoes notnot expresslyexpressly givegive anyany suchsuch power;power; (f)(f) whether
whether itit involvesinvolves expenditureexpenditure fromfrom thethe ConsolidatedConsolidated FundFund of of IndiaIndia oror thethe publicpublic revenues;revenues; (g)(g) whether
whether itit appearsappears toto makemake somesome unusualunusual oror unexpectedunexpected useuse of of thethe powerspowers conferredconferred byby thethe Constitution
