No¬ Confidence Motion

Context: Recently, the Lok Sabha Speaker accepted a no confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the Government.

Image Credits: Indian Express

About No Confidence Motion:

• A no-confidence motion is a formal process in which a legislature expresses lack of confidence in government.
• Constitutional mandate: As per, Article 75 of the Constitution, the council of ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. 
• Interpretation: It means that the ministry stays in office so long as it enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members of the Lok Sabha.
  • In other words, the Lok Sabha can remove the ministry from office by passing a no-confidence motion.
• Conditions:
• • The motion needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
  • It can only be moved in the Lok Sabha.
  • The allotted date has to be within 10 days from the day the motion is accepted.
  • A motion of no-confidence can only be submitted six months after Parliament has rejected the previous one.
• Impact: 
  • When the Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion against the council of ministers, all the ministers have to resign including those ministers who are from the Rajya Sabha.
• Facts: The first motion of no confidence was moved by Acharya J B Kripalani in 1963 against the government headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Instances of No-Confidence Motion:

Year	Government of Day
1990	National Front Government
1997	United Front Government
1999	National Democratic Alliance

Significance:

• Tool of Discussion: No confidence motion has historically been used as a strategic tool to force a discussion on a certain topic or issue.
• Accountability: It allows Members of Parliament (MPs) to hold the ruling government accountable for its actions and policies.

News Source: Times of India