No Confidence Motion

Why in News?

The Opposition is likely to move a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, days after he accused Congress MPs of plotting an "unforeseen act" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

What is no confidence motion?

• A no-confidence motion(NCM) – It is a parliamentary tool, typically used by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (lower house), to challenge the government's majority and demand its resignation.
• If passed by a simple majority, the entire Council of Ministers must resign, as the government is collectively responsible to the House.
• Applicability – It can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha (Lower House), not the Rajya Sabha.
• Procedure – A motion requires the support of at least 50 members to be admitted by the Speaker.
• Requirement – It is aimed at the entire Council of Ministers, not individual members.
• Purpose – It forces the ruling government to prove its majority on the floor of the House.
• Consequence – If the motion passes (more than 50% voting in favor), the government is deemed to have lost the majority and must resign.
• Rules – In India, it is regulated under Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha rules of procedure.
• In a parliamentary democracy, a government can be in power only if it commands a majority in the directly elected House.
• It is a parliamentary process that allows the opposition to challenge the government’s majority.
• Consequence of NCM – If the no-confidence motion is passed in the Parliament, then the government must resign.
• Article 75(3) of our Constitution embodies this rule by specifying that the Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
• For testing this collective responsibility, the rules of Lok Sabha provide a particular mechanism – a motion of no-confidence.
• A no confidence motion can only be moved in the Lok Sabha.

What is the difference between NCM and censure motion?

What is the procedure for passing a NCM?

• Support – Any Lok Sabha MP who can garner the support of 50 colleagues can introduce a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers.
• It is moved in writing and must be signed by the member moving it, the motion is submitted to the Speaker of Lok Sabha on any day on which the House is sitting.
• Power of Speaker – He will decide whether to admit the motion for discussion and debate.
• If the motion is admitted, the Speaker will decide on the date and time for discussion.
• Date – This date for discussion should be within 10 days from the date the motion was accepted in the House.
• Time for discussion – The Speaker may grant time for discussion of the motion under Rule 198 of Lok Sabha.
• Debate – The motion will be debated in the Lok Sabha and it will be moved by the member who submitted it.
• Government will respond to the motion, the opposition parties will then have the opportunity to speak on the motion.
• Vote - After the debate, the Lok Sabha will vote on the NCM, it will be passed if it is supported by the majority of the members of the House.

What is the history of no confidence motion (NCM)?

• Since Independence 27 NCMs have been moved in the Lok Sabha
• First NCM – It was during the 3^rd Lok Sabha in 1963 that the first motion of no confidence was moved by Acharya J B Kripalani against the government headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Highest number of instances
  • Indira Gandhi- Faced NCMs 15 times.
  • Lal Bahadur Shasthri- Faced 3 times.
  • PV Narashima Rao- Faced 3 times.
• In 1979, Prime Minister Morarji Desai realised that he did not have the support of the majority of MPs, and therefore resigned before the House voted on the motion.
• Governments fallen due to NCM
  • V P Singh government in 1990
  • H D Deve Gowda government in 1997

• • Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999
• Most recent NCM was moved in 2023 due to the ethnic violence in the state of Manipur.

Reference

The Indian Express| No Confidence Motion