Types of Motions in Indian Parliament
What is Adjournment Motion?
Adjournment Motion
» Adjournment motion in Indian parliament is basically moved for the purpose of discussing a definite method of utter public importance.
» It means to stop the house to proceed to its regular business and first discuss the matter which is of an urgent kind.
» Adjournment motion can be moved only with the consent of the Speaker. Generally, such motions are discussed in the afternoon at 4.00 p.m.
The adjournment motion is thus an extraordinary procedure which, if admitted, leads to setting aside the normal business of the House for discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance.
What is Privilege Motion in Indian Parliament Proceedings?
Privilege Motion
» Members of the Parliament, MLA, MLC enjoy special privileges and immunities (e.g privilege against arrest) individually and collectively so that they can effectively discharge their functions.
» The judiciary can't interfere in the internal affairs of the Parliament (Theory of Separation of Power)
» When any of these rights and immunities is disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is punishable under the law of Parliament or the state legislature.
» The motion will be introduced by the opposition if a minister has misled the house by providing wrong information.
» Its purpose is to censure the concerned minister.
A motion moved by a member if he feels that a Minister has committed a breach of privilege of the House or of any one or more of its members by withholding the facts of a case or by giving a distorted version of facts etc.
What is Censure Motion?
Censure Motion
» A censure motion can be moved in the parliament or in a state assembly in India.
» It is moved by the opposition against a specific policy of the government or against a minister or against the whole council of ministers.
» If censure motion is passed, no need to resign.
» A censure motion can be moved only in the lower house of the parliament or in a state assembly in India.
» The censure motion in itself that does not enjoin a legal obligation to resign but is severely embarrassing for a government to lose.
What is No-Confidence Motion?
‘No-Confidence’ Motion
» A motion of no confidence (alternatively vote of no confidence, no-confidence motion, or (unsuccessful) confidence motion) is a statement or vote that a person or persons in a position of responsibility (government, managerial, etc.) is no longer deemed fit to hold that position: perhaps because they are inadequate in some respect, are failing to carry out obligations, or are making decisions that other members feel are detrimental.
» As a parliamentary motion, it demonstrates to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in (one or more members of) the appointed government.
» Motions of no confidence against the government can be introduced and passed in the Lok Sabha.
» If “No-Confidence” motion passed by a majority vote, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers resigns collectively.
Lok Sabha can remove the ministry from office by passing a no-confidence motion. The motion is admitted for discussion when a minimum of 50 members of the house support the motion.
What is Motion of Confidence?
Motion of Confidence
» A Motion of Confidence is a motion of support proposed by a government in a parliament or other assembly of elected representatives to give members of parliament (or another such assembly) a chance to register their confidence in a government.
» The motion is passed or rejected by means of a parliamentary vote (a Vote of Confidence).
» Governments often propose a Motion of Confidence to replace a Motion of No Confidence proposed by the opposition.
» Defeat of a Motion of Confidence in a parliamentary democracy generally requires one of two actions: the resignation of the government, or a request for a parliamentary dissolution and the calling of a General Election.
What is the Motion of Thanks?
Motion of Thanks
» Motion of Thanks is a motion in Indian Parliament which follows the address of the President of India to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at the commencement of the first session of a new Lok Sabha and the first session of every year.
The President makes a special address(a statement of government policy that has to be approved by the Cabinet) to a joint sitting of both Houses. The address is followed by a motion of thanks moved in each House by ruling party MPs and this is called ‘Motion of Thanks’.
What is the Calling Attention Motion?
Calling Attention Motion
» A member may, with the prior permission of the Speaker, call the attention of a Minister to any matter of urgent public importance and the Minister may make a brief statement or ask for time to make a statement at a later hour or date.
» Like the zero hour, it is also an Indian innovation in the parliamentary procedure and has been in existence since 1954.
» However, unlike the zero hour, it is mentioned in the Rules of Procedure.
What is No Day Yet Named Motion?
No-Day-Yet-Named Motion
» If the Speaker admits the notice of a motion and no date is fixed for its discussion it is called a No-Day-Yet-Named Motion and a copy of the admitted motion is forwarded to the Minister concerned with the subject matter of the motion.
» Admitted notices of such motions may be placed before the Business Advisory Committee for selecting the motions for discussion in the House according to the urgency and importance of the subject-matter thereof, and allotted for the same.
» Advisory Committee allots a day or days or part of a day for the discussion of such a motion.
What are the Cut Motions in Indian Parliament?
Cut Motion
» Cut motion is a power given to the members of the Lok Sabha to oppose a demand in the Financial Bill discussed by the government.
» If a cut motion is adopted by Parliament and the government does not have the numbers, it is obliged to resign as per rules of the Lok Sabha.
» Cut Motions are moved in the Lok Sabha only.
» Cut Motions are part of the budgetary process which seeks to reduce the amounts for grants.
» A Cut Motion is a veto used by members of a legislature against a specific allocation in Budget proposals
» Cut Motions can be divided into three categories.
Three types of Cut Motions
The most popular and well-known motions which are used by members in connection with the budget are three. The demand for grants is considered and passed by Lok Sabha. Hence, these motions can be moved only in Lok Sabha.
1. Policy Cut
» Policy Cut or Disapproval of Policy Cut motion is moved so that the amount of the demand be reduced to Re.1.
» A member giving notice of such a motion shall indicate in precise terms the particulars of the policy which he proposes to discuss.
» The discussion should be confined to the specific point or points mentioned in the notice and it shall be open to members to advocate an alternative policy.
» It means to express disapproval of the policy underlying.
2. Economy Cut
» Economic cut Seeks that the amount of the demand be reduced by a specified amount representing the economy that can be affected.
» The amount to be reduced is clearly stated and the object is to bring about the economy in the expenditure.
3. Token Cut
» A Token Cut motion is moved so that that the amount of the demand be reduced by Rs.100.
» The objective of the motion is to ventilate a specific grievance within the sphere of responsibility of the Government of India
