Lok Sabha

MURAL PAINTINGS IN PARLIAMENT HOUSE

2007-12-08T10:59:00.000+05:30

As one enters the Parliament House, one is fascinated by ai row of beautiful paintings adorning the walls of the outer circular corridor on the ground floor. The paintings are the works of eminent artists of India, depicting scenes from the long history of this country right from the Vedic age down the British period, culminating in the attainment of independence in 1947.

The practice in India of decorating public places, temples and palaces etc., with paintings and murals has come down to us since time immemorial. These pieces of art are symbolic of the life, culture and traditions of the people of the contemporaneous periods. To us now, they are reminiscent of the great civilisations and empires that flourished in India in the past and of the great kings, warriors and saints who by their efforts glorified this land of ours. The caves of Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta are vivid reminders of great art that flourished centuries ago. It was natural, therefore, that the architects of modern India should have thought it fit to decorate the modern temple of democracy, i.e. the Parliament House, with paintings depicting great moments in the history of this country and to try to revive in some measure the glory that was 'India'. The idea was first conceived by the late Shri G.V. Mavalankar, the first Speaker of Lok Sabha. In 1951, a Planning Committee was appointed, consisting of prominent Members of Parliament, eminent scholars, archaeologists, historians with the Speaker (Shri G.V. Mavalankar) as Chairman. The Committee drew up a detailed plan to decorate the corridor on the ground floor of the Parliament House with 125 panels (size 11'.9" x 4'.11/2") and 46 motifs, at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 lakhs. According to revised plan the corridor on Ground Floor of the Parliament House will be decorated with 59 Panels.

In order to execute the plan, an Artists Sub-Committee consisting of well-known artists, historians, archaeologists and archaeological chemists was appointed in 1954. This Sub-Committee laid down a detailed and systematic procedure for getting the panels painted by selected artists in the country.

The artists selected for painting the murals have been divided into different zones and each zone is under the change of an honorary Artist Supervisor who is also a member of the Artists Sub-Committee. The Artist Supervisor guides and supervises the work of the artists in his respective zone. Each panel passes through three stages, i.e. colour sketch, pencil cartoon and final painting on masonite board. The work was to be approved at every stage by the Artist Supervisor and the Artists Sub-Committee, particularly by the historian members of the Sub-Committee.

So far, 58 panels have been completed and displayed in the outer corridor on the ground floor of the Parliament House

Constitution and Functions of Indian Parliamentary

2007-11-18T15:16:00.000+05:30

The Indian Parliamentary Group is an autonomous body formed in the year 1949 in pursuance of a motion adopted by the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) on 16 August, 1948.

The Speaker of Lok Sabha is the ex-officio President and Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha and Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha are ex-officio Vice-Presidents of the Group. The Secretary-General of Lok Sabha is the ex-officio Secretary-General of the Indian Parliamentary Group.

The aims and objects of the Indian Parliamentary Group are:—

(i) to promote personal contacts between members of Parliament;
(ii) to study questions of public importance that are likely to come up before Parliament and arrange Seminars and discussions and Orientation Programmes and bring out publications for the dissemination of information to the Members of the Indian
Parliamentary Group;
(iii) to arrange lectures on political, defence, economic, social and educational problems by members of Parliament and distinguished persons;
(iv) to arrange visits to foreign countries with a view to develop contacts with Members of other Parliaments; and
(v) to function as (a) National Group of the Inter- Parliamentary Union, and (b) Main Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in India.

Calling Attention in Lok Sabha

2007-11-18T15:07:00.000+05:30

A member may, with the previous permission of the Speaker, call attention of a Minister
to any matter of urgent public importance and the Minister may make a brief statement immediately or ask for time to make a statement at a later time.

No debate is permitted on such a statement at the time it is made but each member in whose name the item stands in the List of Business may, with the permission of the Speaker, ask a specific and brief clarificatory question relevant to the subject. The Member who calls attention should not take more than ten minutes and the other members not more than five minutes each.

The Minister replies at the end to all the clarificatory questions asked by members and
the total time taken on a Calling Attention on a day is restricted to half-an-hour to forty-five minutes.

Contd.

Lok Sabha Keep itself in different Indian languages

2007-11-15T23:55:00.000+05:30

The Original Version contains proceedings in English and Hindi as they actually take place in the House. It also contains English/Hindi translation of speeches made in regional languages.
The Hindi Version comprises all Questions asked and Answers thereto given in Hindi and the speeches made in Hindi besides the verbatim translation into Hindi of all Questions asked and Answers thereto given in English and the speeches made in English or in a regional language. Supplementaries asked on Questions or speeches delivered in Urdu appear in Devnagiri script in the printed Hindi Version of debates

The English Version contains Lok Sabha proceedings in English and English translation of the proceedings which take place in Hindi or in any regional language

Lok Sabha members of parliament birthday on 13.11.2007

2007-11-13T23:03:00.000+05:30

Wish You Very Happy Birthday

Dasmunsi,Shri Priya Ranjan

Raiganj(West Bengal )

Indian National Congress

Nambadan,Shri Lonappan

Mukundapuram(Kerala )

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Sugavanam,Shri E.G.

Krisnagiri(Tamil Nadu )

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Some Facts About Lok Sabha Debates

2007-11-11T01:07:00.000+05:30

Three versions of the Lok Sabha Debates are prepared, viz., a Hindi Version, an English Version and an Original Version. Out of these, Hindi and English versions, are printed and distributed among the members and others. The Original Version is kept in the Parliament Library, suitably bound, for purposes of record and reference only.

The Original Version contains proceedings in English and Hindi as they actually take place in the House. It also contains English/Hindi translation of speeches made in regional languages.
The Hindi Version comprises all Questions asked and Answers thereto given in Hindi and the speeches made in Hindi besides the verbatim translation into Hindi of all Questions asked and Answers thereto given in English and the speeches made in English or in a regional language. Supplementaries asked on Questions or speeches delivered in Urdu appear in Devnagiri script in the printed Hindi Version of debates

The English Version contains Lok Sabha proceedings in English and English translation of the proceedings which take place in Hindi or in any regional language

India's Budget Presentation In Lok Sabha

2007-11-09T13:08:00.000+05:30

Article 87(1) of the Constitution provides:- "At the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons."

In the case of the first session after each general election to Lok Sabha, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament assembled together after the Members have made and subscribed the oath or affirmation and the Speaker has been elected. It takes generally two days to complete these preliminaries. No other business is transacted till the President has addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together and informed Parliament of the causes of its summons.

In the case of the first session of each year, the President addresses both Houses of Parliament at the time and human life. They have to perform manifold functions from maintaining law and order, protecting their territories to implementation of plans for economic and social betterment. Besides, they provide a variety of social services like education, health, employment and housing to the people.

Needless to say, Government require adequate resources to discharge these functions effectively. Where is this money to come from and who is to sanction the funds? The necessary funds are mobilised from the country's resources by way of taxes both direct and indirect, loans both long-term and short-term, to meet the Governmental expenditure. In India, the principal sources of revenue are customs and excise duties and Income-tax on individuals and companies.
Need for Budget

It is not as if the Government can tax, borrow and spend money the way it likes. Since there is a limit to the resources, the need for proper budgeting arises to allocate scarce resources to various Governmental activities. Every item of expenditure has to be well thought out and total outlay worked out for a specific period. Prudent spending is essential for the stability of a Government and proper earnings are a pre-requisite to wise spending. Hence, planned expenditure and accurate foresight of earnings are sine-qua-non of sound Governmental finance.

Know the Question Hour in Lok Sabha

2007-11-08T10:21:00.000+05:30

Generally, the first hour of a sitting of Lok Sabha is devoted to Questions and that hour is called the Question Hour. It has a special significance in the proceedings of Parliament.

Asking of questions is an inherent and unfettered parliamentary right of members. It is during the Question Hour that the members can ask questions on every aspect of administration and Governmental activity. Government policies in national as well as international spheres come into sharp focus as the members try to elicit pertinent information during the Question Hour.

The Government is, as it were, put on its trial during the Question Hour and every Minister whose turn it is to answer questions has to stand up and answer for his or his administration's acts of omission and commission. Through the Question Hour the Government is able to quickly feel the pulse of the nation and adapt its policies and actions accordingly. It is through questions in Parliament that the Government remains in touch with the people in as much as members are enabled thereby to ventilate the grievances of the public in matters concerning the administration. Questions enable Ministries to gauge the popular reaction to their policy and administration. Questions bring to the notice of the Ministers many an abuse which otherwise would have gone unnoticed. Sometimes questions may lead to the appointment of a commission, a court of enquiry or even legislation when matters raised are grave enough to agitate the public mind and are of wide public importance.

The Question Hour is an interesting part of the Parliamentary proceedings. Although a question mainly seeks information and tries to elicit facts on a particular subject, there are many a time lively and quicksilver repartees between the Members asking the questions and the Ministers answering them. These repartees are sometimes coupled with flashes of wit and humour. That is why the public galleries and the press galleries are packed to capacity during the Question Hour.

A Bill Journey To An Act In Indian Parliament(Lok Sabha and rajya sabha)

2007-11-07T17:30:00.000+05:30

A Bill is the draft of a legislative proposal. It has to pass through various stages before it becomes an Act of Parliament.

First Reading
The legislative process starts with the introduction of a Bill in either House of Parliament-Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. A Bill can be introduced either by a Minister or by a private member. In the former case it is known as a Government Bill and in the latter case it is known as a Private Member's Bill.
It is necessary for a member-in-charge of the Bill to ask for leave to introduce the Bill. If leave is granted by the House, the Bill is introduced. This stage is known as the First Reading of the Bill. If the motion for leave to introduce a Bill is opposed, the Speaker may, in his discretion, allow brief explanatory statement to be made by the member who opposes the motion and the member-in-charge who moved the motion. Where a motion for leave to introduce a Bill is opposed on the ground that the Bill initiates legislation outside the legislative competence of the House, the Speaker may permit a full discussion thereon. Thereafter, the question is put to the vote of the House. However, the motion for leave to introduce a Finance Bill or an Appropriation Bill is forthwith put to the vote of the House.
Publication in Gazette
After a Bill has been introduced, it is published in the Official Gazette. Even before introduction, a Bill might, with the permission of the Speaker, be published in the Gazette.
In such cases, leave to introduce the Bill in the House is not asked for and the Bill is straightaway introduced.
Reference of Bill to Standing Committee
After a Bill has been introduced, Presiding Officer of the concerned House can refer the Bill to the concerned Standing Committee for examination and make report thereon.
If a Bill is referred to Standing Committee, the Committee shall consider the general principles and clauses of the Bill referred to them and make report thereon. The Committee can also take expert opinion or the public opinion who are interested in the measure. After the Bill has thus been considered, the Committee submits its report to the House. The report of the Committee, being of persuasive value shall be treated as considered advice given by the Committees.
Second Reading
The Second Reading consists of consideration of the Bill which is in two stages.
First Stage: The first stage consists of general discussion on the Bill as a whole when the principle underlying the Bill is discussed. At this stage it is open to the House to refer the Bill to a Select Committee of the House or a Joint Committee of the two Houses or to circulate it for the purpose of eliciting opinion thereon or to straightaway take it into consideration.
If a Bill is referred to a Select/Joint Committee, the Committee considers the Bill clause-by-clause just as the House does. Amendments can be moved to the various clauses by members of the Committee. The Committee can also take evidence of associations, public bodies or experts who are interested in the measure. After the Bill has thus been considered, the Committee submits its report to the House which considers the Bill again as reported by the Committee. If a Bill is circulated for the purpose of eliciting public opinion thereon, such opinions are obtained through the Governments of the States and Union Territories. Opinions so received are laid on the Table of the House and the next motion in regard to the Bill must be for its reference to a Select/Joint Committee. It is not ordinarily permissible at this stage to move the motion for consideration of the Bill.
Second Stage: The second stage of the Second Reading consists of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill as introduced or as reported by Select/Joint Committee.
Discussion takes place on each clause of the Bill and amendments to clauses can be moved at this stage. Amendments to a clause have been moved but not withdrawn are put to the vote of the House before the relevant clause is disposed of by the House. The amendments become part of the Bill if they are accepted by a majority of members present and voting. After the clauses, the Schedules if any, clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Long Title of the Bill have been adopted by the House, the Second Reading is deemed to be over.
Third Reading
Thereafter, the member-in-charge can move that the Bill be passed. This stage is known as the Third Reading of the Bill. At this stage the debate is confined to arguments either in support or rejection of the Bill without referring to the details thereof further than that are absolutely necessary. Only formal, verbal or consequential amendments are allowed to be moved at this stage. In passing an ordinary Bill, a simple majority of members present and voting is necessary. But in the case of a Bill to amend the Constitution, a majority of the total membership of the House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting is required in each House of Parliament.
Bill in the other House
After the Bill is passed by one House, it is sent to the other House for concurrence with a message to that effect, and there also it goes through the stages described above except the introduction stage.
Money Bills
Bills which exclusively contain provisions for imposition and abolition of taxes, for appropriation of moneys out of the Consolidated Fund, etc., are certified as Money Bills. Money Bills can be introduced only in Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha cannot make amendments in a Money Bill passed by Lok Sabha and transmitted to it. It can, however, recommend amendments in a Money Bill, but must return all Money Bills to Lok Sabha within fourteen days from the date of their receipt. It is open to Lok Sabha to accept or reject any or all of the recommendations of Rajya Sabha with regard to a Money Bill. If Lok Sabha accepts any of the recommendations of Rajya Sabha, the Money Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses with amendments recommended by Rajya Sabha and accepted by Lok Sabha and if Lok Sabha does not accept any of the recommendations of Rajya Sabha, Money Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form in which it was passed by Lok Sabha without any of the amendments recommended by Rajya Sabha. If a Money Bill passed by Lok Sabha and transmitted to Rajya Sabha for its recommendations is not returned to Lok Sabha within the said period of fourteen days, it is deemed to have been passed by both Houses at the expiration of the said period in the form in which it was passed by Lok Sabha.

Rules For Lok Sabha

2007-11-03T09:36:00.000+05:30

The Constituent Assembly (Legislative) Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in force immediately before the commencement of the Constitution of India were modified and adopted by the Speaker of Lok Sabha in exercise of the powers conferred on him by article 118(2) of the Constitution and published under the title "Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House of the People" in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated the 17th April, 1952.

Those Rules were amended by the Speaker from time to time on the recommendations of the Rules Committee of the House until September, 1954.

In September, 1954, Rules Committee decided that their recommendations should be approved by the House before amendments were given effect to. Consequently, the procedure for amendment of the rules as given in rule 306 of the Fourth Edition (rule 331 of the Present edition) came into force with effect from the 15th October, 1954.

In December, 1956, Rules Committee recommended that the rules contained in the Fourth Edition of the Rules as amended from time to time might be approved by the House under article 118(1) of the Constitution. The House agreed. Accordingly, the Fifth Edition of the Rules incorporating the amendments made till 28th March, 1957, was laid on the Table of Lok Sabha on that day.

During the Third Lok Sabha, the amendments recommended by the Rules Committee and agreed to by the House were incorporated in the 'March, 1967 Reprint' of the Fifth Edition.

During the Fourth Lok Sabha, the amendments recommended by the Rules Committee and agreed to by the House were incorporated in the 'March, 1971 Reprint' of the Fifth Edition.

During the Fifth Lok Sabha, certain amendments were recommended by the Rules Committee and agreed to by the House. Those amendments were incorporated in the Sixth Edition which was brought up-to-date.

During the Sixth and Seventh Lok Sabha, no amendments were made to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.

During the Eighth Lok Sabha, all the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha were reviewed in depth. These Rules, which were first adopted in 1952, were never subjected to a systematic review in a comprehensive manner thereafter. As a result in many matters the actual practice as it had developed over the years was found to be at variance with the relevant rules as they stood in the Rule Book. In several other cases, matters were being governed merely by precedents and practices. A comprehensive review of the Rules was, therefore, undertaken with the approval of the Rules Committee with a view to incorporating therein the procedural changes that had come about. As a consequence of the review, a large number of amendments/ modifications were necessitated in the rules. These amendments were considered by the Rules Committee and their second, third and fourth Reports (1989) containing their recommendations in this regard were laid on the Table of the House on 2 and 3 May, 1989 and 25 July, 1989 respectively. They were later on agreed to by the House. The amendments so made came into force with effect from 9 May and 1 August, 1989 and were incorporated in the Seventh Edition of the Rules brought out in December, 1989.

During the Ninth Lok Sabha, no amendments were made in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.

During the Tenth Lok Sabha, a full-fledged system of Departmentally Related Standing Committees of Parliament was created by setting up 17 Standing Committees covering under their jurisdiction all the Ministries/Departments of the Union Government replacing the existing three Subject Committees. The rules relating to these Committees and other amendments, as recommended by the Rules Committee and agreed to by the House, were incorporated in the Eighth Edition of the Rules.

During the Eleventh Lok Sabha, a new Committee on the Empowerment of Women was created. The rules relating to this Committee and other amendments as recommended by the Rules Committee and agreed to by the House, were incorporated in the Ninth Edition of the Rules.

During the Twelfth Lok Sabha, no amendments were made in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.

During the Thirteenth Lok Sabha, a new rule 374A, which was recommended by the Rules Committee and agreed to by the House was incorporated in the Tenth Edition of the Rules.

A few minor changes made in the Fifth Schedule to the Rules during the years 2002 and 2004 have been incorporated in this Edition.

The Members of Lok Sabha (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1985, made by the Speaker, Lok Sabha, in terms of paragraph 8 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution which came into force with effect from 18th March, 1986, have been incorporated as Appendix IV.

Rent-free flats and Bungalows at nominal rents for indian members of parliament Really India Cares for them Do they??

2007-11-02T09:40:00.000+05:30

In the name of democracy We the nation even wash Sofas and curtains of our representatives in hopes that they will some day do work for us. look friends how we care them who never dare to serve us but just in the name of democracy. do you justify these.

our member of parliaments get Rent-free flats only (including hostel accommodation). If a Member is allotted bungalow at his request, he shall pay full normal rent, if he is entitled to such accommodation.( Do you know what is nominal rent for this big bungalow in below poverty free area of national capital Delhi just in few hundreds ruppes by month)

Free washing of sofa covers and curtains every three months.Tiles in bathroom, kitchen if demanded by MP.Rent-free furniture upto the monitory ceiling of Rs. 60,000/- fordurable furniture and Rs. 15,000/- for non-durable furniture.

All from our pockets of from our shares od development.

Our Member of Parliament or our Representative And their Engergy Security

2007-11-02T09:14:00.000+05:30

In nation where electricity for 25% people living below poverty line is still a dream , our member of parliament or our Representative gets 50,000 units of electricity per annum, (25,000 units each of Light/Power meters or pooled together). Members who have no power meters installed are allowed 50,000 units per annum on light meter; and 4,000 kilolitres of water per annum beginning January every year.

unutilized units of electricity and water may be carried over to the subsequent years. Excess units consumed may be adjusted against the next year’s quota. Joint entitlement of free consumption of electricity and water units if both husband and wife happen to be members and reside in the same accommodation.

On retirement/resignation/death of a member, the member or his family may be allowed to consume the balance units of electricity and water for that year within one month.

After reading this we can see how energy secure they are, in this energy hungry nation where fate of a national government at stake in the name of energy security.

Know Telephone facilities Given to Indian Member of Parliament

2007-11-01T16:16:00.000+05:30

1,50,000 free local calls per annum on all the three telephones at Delhi residence, constituency residence and for Internet connectivity purposes pooled together. Trunk call bills adjusted within the monetary ceiling of 1, 50,000 local calls per annum. Excess calls made over and above the quota allowed to be adjusted in the next year's quota.Where a Member does not utilize total free local calls available to him, the balance unutilized telephone calls shall be carried forward till his seat becomes vacant.

A Member is entitled to use any number of telephones for utilizing total free local calls available to him at his residences in Delhi and constituency provided that the telephones should be in his name and installation and rental charges for telephones other than the three telephones provided to him will be borne by him.

A Member is also provided Mobile phone with the provision that the calls made from it will be adjusted from the total free local calls available to him.

A Member may avail *two mobile phones, one for the constituency and another in Delhi with national roaming facility from MTNL/BSNL or any other Private Operator where services of
MTNL or BSNL are not available for utilizing total free local calls provided that registration and rental charges for private mobile phone will be borne by him.

Members will be provided broadband facilities on one telephone subject to the condition that rental should not exceed
Rs. 1,500/- per month.

Question Hour In Lok Sabha Ask Your member of parliament

2007-11-01T13:33:00.000+05:30

G enerally, the first hour of a sitting of Lok Sabha is devoted to the Questions and this hour is called the Question Hour. It has a special significance in the proceedings of the Parliament. Asking of questions is an inherent and unfettered parliamentary right of members. It is during the Question Hour that the members can ask questions on every aspect of administration and Governmental activity. Government policies in national as well as international spheres come into sharp focus as the members try to elicit pertinent information during the Question Hour.

The Government is, as it were, put on its trial during the Question Hour and every Minister whose turn it is to answer questions has to stand up and answer for his or his administration's acts of omission and commission. Through the Question Hour the Government is able to quickly feel the pulse of the nation and adapt its policies and actions accordingly. It is through questions in the Parliament that the Government remains in touch with the people in as much as members are enabled thereby to ventilate the grievances of the public in matters concerning the administration. Questions enable Ministries to gauge the popular reaction to their policy and administration. Questions bring to the notice of the Ministers many loopholes which otherwise would have gone unnoticed. Sometimes questions may lead to the appointment of a Commission, a Court of Enquiry or even Legislation when matters raised by Members are grave enough to agitate the public mind and are of wide public importance.

What is the current salary of a member of Parliament in india?

2007-11-01T11:35:00.000+05:30

At present a member of Parliament is entitled to Rs. 12,000/- per month as salary, Rs. 10,000/- per month as Constituency Allowance, Rs. 14,000/- per month as Office Expenses which includes Rs. 3,000/- for stationary, Rs. 1000/- for franking letters and Rs. 10,000/- for a Personal Assistant. A member also gets daily allowance of Rs. 500 per day for attending sitting of the House or Committees or any other parliamentary work.

What is the MPLAD Scheme?

2007-11-01T11:34:00.000+05:30

The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) was introduced in 1993. Under this scheme a member of Lok Sabha has the choice to suggest to the Head of the District, development works to the tuneof Rs. two crore per year, to be taken up in his/her constituency.

Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). Under the scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the District Collector for, works to the tune of Rs.2 Crores per annum to be taken up in his/her constituency. The Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament can recommend works in one or more districts in the State from where he/she has been elected. The Nominated Members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may select any one or more Districts from any one State in the Country for implementation of their choice of work under the scheme.

Are the parliamentary privileges codified in India?

2007-11-01T11:33:00.000+05:30

No law has so far been enacted by Parliament (and State Legislatures) in pursuance of clause (3) of articles 105/194 of the Constitution to define the powers, privileges and immunities available to each House and its members and the Committees thereof. In the absence of any such law, powers, privileges and immunities of the Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures, and of the members and the Committees thereof, shall be those of that House and of its members and Committees immediately before the coming into force of section 15 of the Constitution (Forty fourth Amendment) Act, 1978. The Constitution Forty Fourth Amendment) Act, 1978 removed the reference to the House of Commons which was there earlier in clause 3 of articles 105 and 194.

What are parliamentary privileges?

2007-11-01T11:32:00.000+05:30

The term `parliamentary privilege' refers to certain rights and immunities enjoyed by each House of Parliament and Committees of each House collectively, and by members of each House individually, without which they cannot discharge their functions, efficiently and effectively. The object of parliamentary privileges is to safeguard the freedom, the authority and the dignity of Parliament. The powers, privileges and immunities of either House of Parliament and State Legislatures and of its Committees and members have been laid down in articles 105 and 194 of the Constitution. The House has the power to punish any person who commits a contempt of the House or a breach of any of its privileges.

Can members raise questions on the President's Address?

2007-11-01T11:29:00.000+05:30

No member can raise questions on the President's Address. Any action on the part of a member which mars the occasion or creates disturbance , is punishable by the House to which that member belongs. Discussion on matters referred to in the President's Address takes place on a Motion of Thanks moved by a member and seconded by another member. The scope of discussion on the President's Address is very wide and the functioning of the entire administration is open for discussion. The limitations inter-alia are that members should not refer to matters which are not the direct responsibility of the Government of India, and the name of the President should not be brought in during the debate since the Government and not the President is responsible for the contents of the Address.

What is a Calling Attention ?

2007-11-01T11:28:00.000+05:30

Under this procedural device, a member may, with the previous 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. There can be no debate on such a statement at the time it is made. But, brief clarifications can be sought from the Minister by a member who has initiated the Calling Attention and other members who are called by the Speaker. The Calling Attention procedure is an Indian innovation. It combines asking a question with supplementaries and making brief comments. In this procedure, Government gets adequate opportunity to state its case. The calling attention matter is not subject to the vote of the House.

What is the total limit of questions admitted for a particular day?

2007-11-01T11:27:00.000+05:30

The total number of questions in a starred list for a day is 20. All admitted Starred Questions, which do not find a place in the Starred List of Questions, may be considered for Unstarred List of that day.

The total number of questions in the Unstarred List of any one day does not normally exceed 230. However, the number may exceed by a maximum of 25 questions pertaining to State/States under the President's Rule.

What is the Question-Hour of the House

2007-11-01T11:24:00.000+05:30

Generally, the first hour of every sitting of the House, devoted to asking and answering questions, is called the `Question Hour'.

What is Adjournment, Prorogation and Dissolution of the Lok Sabha?

2007-11-01T11:22:00.000+05:30

An adjournment terminates the sitting of the House which meets again at the time appointed for the next sitting. An adjournment also signifies brief break of the sitting of the House which re-assembles at the appointed time on the same day.

Prorogation means the termination of a session of the House by an order made by the President under article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution. Usually, prorogation follows the adjournment of the sitting of the House sine die.

Dissolution of the House means the end of the life of the Lok Sabha either by an order made by the President under article 85 (2) (b) of the Constitution or on the expiration of the period of five years from the date appointed for its first meeting.

How many joint sittings of the Houses have been convened so far?

2007-11-01T11:20:00.000+05:30

So far, joint sittings of the two Houses have taken place on three occasions. The first joint sitting was held on 6 and 9 May 1961, following disagreement between the two Houses over certain amendments to the Dowry Prohibition Bill, 1959. The second joint sitting was held on 16 May, 1978, following rejection by the Rajya Sabha of the Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill, 1977. The third joint sitting was held on 26 March 2002 when the motion to consider the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2002, seeking to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) as passed by the Lok Sabha was rejected by the Rajya Sabha. This sitting was held for the purpose of deliberating and voting on the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2002.

G.V. Mavalankar was the first Speaker of Lok Sabha

2007-11-01T11:16:00.000+05:30

Shri G.V. Mavalankar was the first Speaker of Lok Sabha (15 May 1952- 27 February 1956) and Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar was the first Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha (30 May 1952-7 March 1956).