QUESTION
PROCEDURES IN LOK SABHA - POLITY
News: Mahua Moitra and ‘cash for query’
row: How MPs ask questions in Lok Sabha
What's
in the news?
●
MPs raise questions during Question Hour
to hold the government accountable for its policies and actions.
Question
Hour:
●
The first
hour of every parliamentary sitting is termed as Question hour.
●
It is mentioned
in the Rules of Procedure of the House.
●
During this time, the members ask
questions and the ministers usually
give answers.
●
The questions can also be asked to the private members (MPs who are not
ministers).
●
An MP has to first give a notice addressed
to the lower house’s Secretary-General, intimating their intention to ask a
question.
Days
excepted:
Question Hour in both
Houses is held on all days of the session. But there are two days when an
exception is made:
●
There is no Question Hour on the day the
President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall.
●
Question Hour is not scheduled on the day
the Finance Minister presents the Budget.
Role
of Presiding Officer:
●
The presiding officers of the both Houses
(Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha) are the final authority with respect to the conduct
of Question Hour.
Types
of Questions:
|
Starred |
●
A Starred question is
asked by an MP and answered orally by the Minister-in-charge. ●
Each MP is allowed to
ask one starred question per day. Starred questions have to be submitted at
least 15 days in advance (so that the Minister-in-charge has the time to
prepare the answers). ●
When a question is
answered orally, supplementary questions can be asked thereon. |
|
Unstarred |
●
An unstarred question
receives a written reply from the Ministry. These also need to be submitted
at least 15 days in advance. ●
Supplementary
questions are not permitted. |
|
Short-notice questions |
●
Short notice
questions are ones pertaining to a matter of urgent public importance. ●
They can be asked
with less than 10 days’ notice, with reasons for the short notice. ●
They are answered
orally, followed by supplementary questions. |
|
Questions addressed to private Members |
●
It is asked when the
subject matter pertains to any Bill, Resolution or any matter relating to the
Business of the House for which that MP is responsible. ●
Procedure: Same as
starred question (written above). |