What is the issue?
- The Lok Sabha Speaker adjourned the House without taking up the motion of no-confidence for the fourth day in succession.
- This and other decisions in the recent days have led to questioning the non-partisan role of the Speaker.
What is a no-confidence motion?
- Motion - As per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, any member of the house can move a no-confidence motion.
- The member need not give a reason for moving a no-confidence motion.
- Once the Speaker is of the opinion that the motion is proper, then s/he reads out the motion to the house.
- A minimum of 50 members have to accept the motion.
- If not, then the motion fails and the member who moved the motion is informed about it.
- Discuss - If the motion is accepted, then the Speaker will announce a day when the motion is to be discussed.
- The day cannot be more than 10 days from the day the motion is accepted.
- Vote - The motion is then put to vote; it can be conducted through “Voice Vote”, “Division of Votes” or other means.
- The government of the day has to resign if the government loses a ‘confidence’ motion or if the ‘no-confidence’ motion is accepted by the majority.
- There is no time-limit that must be adhered to between two no-confidence motions.
What is the present concern in this regard?
- No-confidence motion was recently moved by the Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress that was supported by major Opposition parties.
- The motion was moved by the required number of Members of Parliament (MPs).
- The Speaker is delaying the no-confidence motion on grounds of disruption in the House.
- Not taking it up for passage has led to concerns in the Opposition benches.
- As, delaying the no-confidence motion will benefit the government.
- Procedure - A no-confidence motion must be taken up immediately, and all other House business must make way for it.
- This is fundamental to parliamentary functioning and to executive accountability.
- In any case, the Speaker's argument is debatable as the onus of maintaining order in the House is squarely on the Speaker.
What are the other recent concerns?
- Finance Bill - Recently, guillotine provision was used for passing the Finance Bill without debate. Click here to know more.
- This was also the first time in years that the Lok Sabha did not discuss and vote on even one demand for grants.
- Many important decisions were thus taken without any legislative scrutiny.
- Money Bills - The present Speaker's approval of Bills that are clearly not Money Bills is another concern.
- These are hence being dealt with by the Lok Sabha as such, depriving the Rajya Sabha of its right to legislate.
What does it call for?
- The Speaker represents the entire House and not just the Treasury benches.
- It is extremely essential for democracy that the Speaker remain non-partisan.
- Decisions of the Speakers in matters as discussed above are a prime means by which impartiality is demonstrated.
- The Speaker should carry out the assigned duty to ensure detailed deliberation and legislative scrutiny of important legislation.
Source: Business Standard
