ADJOURNMENT MOTION

The proceedings of the Assam Legislative Assembly were adjourned thrice on the second day of the ongoing budget session, as both the ruling and opposition MLAs staged protest in the well on different issues.

Adjournment Motion

  • It is introduced in the Parliament to draw attention of the House to a definite matter of urgent public importance,
  • Needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
  • As it interrupts the normal business of the House, it is regarded as an extraordinary device.
  • It involves an element of censure against the government and hence Rajya Sabha is not permitted to make use of this device.
  • The discussion on an adjournment motion should last for not less than two hours and thirty minutes.

The right to move a motion for an adjournment of the business of the House is subject to the following restrictions:

  1. It should raise a matter which is definite, factual, urgent and of public importance;
  2. It should not cover more than one matter;
  3. It should be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence and should not be framed in general terms;
  4. It should not raise a question of privilege;
  5. It should not revive discussion on a matter that has been discussed in the same session;
  6. It should not deal with any matter that is under adjudication by court; and
  7. It should not raise any question that can be raised on a distinct motion.

Motions in Parliamentary Procedure:

General Rule: No discussion without consent of the presiding officer.

Types of Motions:

  • Substantive Motion: Independent proposal on important matters (e.g., impeachment of the President).
  • Substitute Motion: Proposes an alternative to the original motion; supersedes if adopted.
  • Subsidiary Motion: Relies on an original motion to hold meaning.
    • Ancillary Motion: Regular way to proceed with business.
    • Superseding Motion: Moves to replace another issue in debate.
    • Amendment: Modifies part of the original motion.

Closure Motion

  • Purpose: Cut short debate and put matter to vote immediately.
  • Types of Closure Motions:
  • Simple Closure: Proposes to vote after sufficient discussion.
  • Closure by Compartments: Debates grouped into parts, voted together.
  • Kangaroo Closure: Only important clauses debated; others skipped.
  • Guillotine Closure: All undiscussed clauses voted together due to time limits.

Privilege Motion

  • Purpose: Addresses breach of parliamentary privileges by a minister (e.g., withholding facts or providing wrong information).
  • Goal: Censure the minister involved.

Calling Attention Motion

  • Purpose: Calls minister’s attention to urgent public issues; seeks an authoritative statement.
  • Unique Feature: An Indian innovation since 1954, unlike Zero Hour, it is part of the Rules of Procedure.

No-Confidence Motion

  • Constitutional Basis: Article 75 – Council of ministers must have Lok Sabha’s confidence.
  • Purpose: Removes a government if it loses confidence, requiring 50 member support to admit.

Confidence Motion

  • Purpose: Seeks to prove the government’s majority in situations of fractured mandates, minority, or coalition governments.
  • Outcome: If the motion is negatived, the government falls.

Censure Motion

  • It can be moved against an individual minister or a group of ministers or the entire council of ministers.
  • It should state the reasons for its adoption in the Lok Sabha.
  • It is moved for censuring the council of ministers for specific policies and actions.
  • If it is passed in the Lok Sabha, the council of ministers need not resign from the office.

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