Context:
Ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has decided to move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha against the government on the three controversial farm laws.
Relevance:
GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Provisions, Legislature)
Dimensions of the Article:
- Adjournment Motion
- Calling Attention Motion
- Other Important Motions in the Parliament
Adjournment Motion
- An Adjournment Motion’s primary objective is to draw the attention of Lok Sabha to a recent matter of urgent public importance having serious consequences and in regard to which a motion or a resolution with proper notice will be too late.
- Adjournment motion is allowed only in Lok Sabha and in State Legislative Assemblies and NOT in the Rajya Sabha or in State Legislative Councils because it has an element of censure against the Government.
- An Adjournment motion in the LS needs the support of at least 50 members and should be introduced on a matter of definite and urgent public importance (and it should be restricted to that one matter only).
- The subject matter should not be the same which is already being discussed in the same session.
- Questions that can be raised through other distinct motions cannot be raised in an Adjournment motion.
- Adjournment motion disrupts the normal business of the house and is regarded as an extraordinary tool in Parliament.
- Discussions on Adjournment motion matter need to last at least two and a half hours.
Calling Attention Motion
- A calling attention motion is introduced by a member to call the attention of a Minister to a matter of urgent public importance.
- The minister is expected to make an authoritative statement on that matter.
- It can be introduced in both LS and RS.
Calling Attention Motion versus Adjournment Motion
- Since Rajya Sabha is not permitted to make use of Adjournment Motion, there is a similar tool in Rajya Sabha which is the Calling Attention motion.
- The notable difference between the two is that while Adjournment Motion has an element of Censure against the Government, the Calling Attention has NO such Censure element.
Other Important Motions in the Parliament
Closure Motion
- A debate may be brought to an end (and the matter is put to vote) by a majority decision of the House (Even if all Members wishing to speak have not) by a Closure motion.
Privilege Motion
- A Privilege Motion is moved against breach of Parliamentary Privileges which are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by MPs, MLAs and MLCs, individually and collectively, so that they can effectively discharge their functions.
- When any of these rights and immunities is disregarded, the offence is called ‘Breach of Privilege’ and is punishable under the law of Parliament or the State Legislature.
No-Confidence Motion
- The CoM is collectively responsible to LS and it remains in office till it enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members in Lok Sabha, and a motion of No-Confidence can be moved to remove the CoM and oust the government from office.
- A no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assemblies.
Censure Motion
- Censure literally means the expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism.
- Censure Motion is generally used as a stern rebuke by the legislature against the policies of the Government or an individual minister.
Motion of Thanks
- A Motion of thanks is moved and voted in both LS and RS, after the inaugural speech of the President (President’s Address).
- The President’s Address is generally drafted by the ruling party and its contents outline the vision of the government.
Click Here to read more about States rejecting farm laws and farmers protesting against the new laws
-Source: The Hindu
