Adjournment motion

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What are the various motions raised in Indian Parliament?
• What is short-duration discussion under rule 193?
• What is Rule 184, a motion with a vote?
• What is an adjournment motion?
• What is No Confidence Motion?

 

Why in news?

• Recently, MPs from prominent opposition party moved adjournment motions in the Lok Sabha, citing the need for urgent discussions on the ethnic violence in Manipur.

 

What are the various motions raised in Indian Parliament?

• In both the houses of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, there are ways for Members of Parliament to draw the attention of the house to any relevant issue.
• There are four main procedures under which there could be a discussion in the Lok Sabha:
  • a debate without voting under Rule 193,
  • a motion (with a vote) under Rule 184, 
  • an adjournment motion, or
  • a no-confidence motion.
• Except the last one, similar measures also exist in the Rajya Sabha.

 

What is short-duration discussion under rule 193?

• About
  • Short Duration Discussions takes place in Lok Sabha under Rule 193 of its rules and in Rajya Sabha under Rule 176 of its rules.
  • It is a parliamentary device that allows MPs to raise urgent matters of public importance in the House for a specified duration.
  • Usually, issues that are time-sensitive, of national importance, and require immediate attention are considered for this type of discussion.
• Procedure
  • The MP will need to give notice to the Speaker specifying the matter to be raised and the reasons for doing so.
  • The MP raises the matter and this is followed by other MPs discussing the issue. The Member who raises the discussion has no right of reply.
  • The Minister-in-charge responds at the end of the discussion.
• Not Followed by a Motion:
  • Discussions under this rule do not involve the introduction of a formal motion before the House.
  • Hence, no voting takes place after a discussion on the matters considered under this rule.
• Speaker has the authority
  • The Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the authority to decide whether a particular issue qualifies for a Short Duration Discussion under Rule 193.

 

What is Rule 184, a motion with a vote?

• About
  • The procedure for taking up an issue under this Rule is similar to that of Rule 193, with one exception.
  • The issue is raised in the form of a motion. After the Minister’s reply, the House votes on the motion.
  • Rule 184 allows MPs to move a motion in the Lok Sabha that involves voting on a specific issue.
  • When a motion is brought under Rule 184, it is considered a matter of significant importance and is debated and decided upon by the members through a voting process.
  • The Speaker can allow for such a matter to be raised at his own discretion.
• Features
  • Notice Requirement: An MP who wishes to move a motion under Rule 184 must give prior notice to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
  • Content of the Motion: The motion should clearly state the issue or matter that the MP wants to bring to the attention of the House for a decision.
  • Voting Process: After the motion is presented and debated, a voting process is held.
    • Members of the Lok Sabha vote either in favour of the motion or against it.
    • Passage of a motion would require the government to follow Parliament’s decision on the issue.

 

What is an adjournment motion?

• A motion for an adjournment of the business of the House is moved for discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, with the Speaker’s consent.
  • The Rajya Sabha Rule Book does not provide for an adjournment motion.
  • Over the years, Rajya Sabha MPs have used Rule 267 to suspend Question Hour in the House to raise urgent matters.
• Notice of an adjournment motion is required to be given before 10 am on the day on which the motion is proposed.
• If the adjournment motion is accepted, the House adjourns after voting.
• The adoption of an adjournment motion is seen as a censure of the government, although there is no compulsion on the government to resign.

 

What is No Confidence Motion?

• A motion of no confidence can be moved against the Council of Ministers.
• Notice for such a motion has to be given before 10 am on the day of sitting.
• A no confidence motion is moved by an MP if according to him/her the government’s activities have not been satisfactory and resignation of the government is demanded.
• The Speaker will ask MPs who support the motion to rise at their seats, and will fix a time for a motion if at least 50 MPs do so.
• At the end of such a debate the motion is put to vote. If the motion is adopted, the government has to resign.

 

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Q1) What is censure motion in Lok Sabha?

In the context of the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of the Parliament of India, a censure motion is a formal motion moved by members of the opposition to express their strong disapproval and condemnation of the government's policies, actions, or decisions. It is a significant parliamentary procedure used to hold the government accountable for its actions and to voice dissent. When a censure motion is brought in the Lok Sabha, it is called the "Motion of Censure." The motion is introduced as a resolution, and its purpose is to criticize the government's actions and to show that the government does not have the confidence and support of the majority of the members in the house.

 

Q2) What is Rajya Sabha?

The Rajya Sabha or the Council of States, is the upper house of the Parliament of India. It is one of the two houses of the Indian Parliament, the other being the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Rajya Sabha represents the federal character of India and serves as a forum to represent the interests of the states and union territories.

 

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Source: What is an adjournment motion, moved by Congress MPs in Parliament? | PRS | Times of India