Parliament (PART) 3

There are total 13 members of Parliament of Lok Sabha from Punjab.

Out of these, Hindi and English versions are printed and distributed among the House Members and others.

SOME OTHER MOTIONS USED IN PARLIAMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Closure Motion

• It is a motion moved by a member to cut short the debate on a matter before the House. If the motion is approved by the House, the debate is stopped and the matter is put to vote.

Privilege Motion

• It is moved by a member when he feels that a minister has committed a breach of the privilege of the house or its members by withholding facts or by giving wrong facts.
• Its purpose is to censure the concerned minister.

Calling Attention Motion

• This motion is used by a member to call the attention of a minister to a matter of urgent public importance and seek an authoritative statement from him thereupon.
• Like Zero Hour, it is also an Indian innovation in the parliamentary procedure.
• However, unlike Zero Hour, it is mentioned in the Rules of Procedure.

No-Confidence Motion

• This is a motion moved by a member to express a lack of confidence of the Lok Sabha in the government.
  • This motion is moved in accordance with the provisions under Article 75, which says that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. It means that the Government stays in office only as long as it enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members of Lok Sabha.
• It can be moved only in the Lok Sabha.
• It needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
• The motion, if allowed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, is debated upon and then put to vote. If it gets passed by the House by a Simple Majority, the government has to resign.

Censure Motion

• This motion is moved to seek the disapproval of certain policies of the government.
• It seeks to censure the government for its ‘lapses’.
• It can be moved only in the Lok Sabha and not in the Rajya Sabha.

Motion of Thanks

• The first session after each general election and the first session of every fiscal year is addressed by the president, wherein the president outlines the policies and programs of the government in the preceding year and ensuing year. This address of the president is discussed in both the Houses of Parliament on a motion called the ‘Motion of Thanks’.
• At the end of the discussion, the motion is put to vote.
• This motion must be passed in the House. Otherwise, it amounts to the defeat of the government.

Question Hour

• Question Hour is a scheduled period where Members of Parliament (MPs) have the opportunity to ask questions to ministers regarding various matters of public interest during a parliamentary session.
• This period usually occurs at the first hour of every sitting in both the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) of the Indian Parliament.
• The different types of questions asked to ministers during the Question Hour are as follows:

Starred Questions

• These questions require oral answers from the ministers.
• MPs who submit starred questions are allowed to ask supplementary questions.
• These are printed in green color.

Unstarred Questions

• These questions require written answers from the ministers.
• MPs who submit unstarred questions do not have the opportunity to ask supplementary questions.
• These are printed in white color.

Short Notice Questions

• These questions can be asked by giving a notice of less than 10 days.
• They are answered orally.
• These are printed in light pink color.

• In addition to ministers, questions can also be asked to private members regarding some matters related to them.
  • These questions are printed in yellow color.

Zero Hour

• It refers to a scheduled period that starts immediately after the Question Hour and lasts until the agenda or the regular business for the day is taken up.
• It is used to raise matters without prior notice.
• It is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure. Thus, it is an informal device.
• It is an Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary proceedings.

Question Hour

• Question Hour is a scheduled period where Members of Parliament (MPs) have the opportunity to ask questions to ministers regarding various matters of public interest during a parliamentary session.
• This period usually occurs at the first hour of every sitting in both the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) of the Indian Parliament.
• The different types of questions asked to ministers during the Question Hour are as follows:

Starred Questions

• These questions require oral answers from the ministers.
• MPs who submit starred questions are allowed to ask supplementary questions.
• These are printed in green color.

Unstarred Questions

• These questions require written answers from the ministers.
• MPs who submit unstarred questions do not have the opportunity to ask supplementary questions.
• These are printed in white color.

Short Notice Questions

• These questions can be asked by giving a notice of less than 10 days.
• They are answered orally.
• These are printed in light pink color.

• In addition to ministers, questions can also be asked to private members regarding some matters related to them.
  • These questions are printed in yellow color.

The Parliamentary committees draw their authority from the constitution.

Article 105: Powers, privileges, etc., of the houses of Parliament and of the members and committees thereof.

Article 118: Each House of Parliament may make rules for regulations, subject to the provisions of this constitution, its procedure and the conduct of its business.

Parliamentary Committees of the Indian Parliament

Parliamentary Committees assist the Indian Parliament in legislative, financial, and administrative matters. They ensure detailed scrutiny of bills, policies, and governmental actions, enhancing efficiency and accountability.

Types of Committees

1. Standing Committees (Permanent)

• Financial Committees:
  • Public Accounts Committee (PAC): Examines government accounts.
  • Estimates Committee: Reviews government expenditure.
  • Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU): Scrutinizes public sector enterprises.
• Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs): 24 committees reviewing ministry functions.
• Other Standing Committees: Cover government assurances, subordinate legislation, petitions, privileges, and parliamentary business.

2. Ad Hoc Committees (Temporary)

• Formed for specific tasks like reviewing bills (Select Committees, JPCs) and policy investigations.

Meira Kumar was the 15th Speaker of Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014. She was also the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2004 to 2009.