Adjournment motion in Lok Sabha

About Adjournment:

• A session of Parliament consists of many meetings. Each meeting of a day consists of two sittings, that is, a morning sitting from 11 am to 1 pm and post-lunch sitting from 2 pm to 6 pm. 
• A Sitting of Parliament can be terminated by adjournment or adjournment sine die or prorogation or dissolution (in the case of the Lok Sabha). An adjournment suspends the work in a sitting for a specified time, which may be hours, days or weeks. 

Adjournment motion:

• An adjournment motion is a procedural device used in the Lok Sabha. It is used to draw the attention of the House to a definite matter of urgent public importance and, if admitted, it leads to an interruption of the normal business of the House. 

Purpose of Adjournment Motion:

• The primary purpose of an adjournment motion is to censure the government for its actions or inactions on a specific issue. It allows members to bring urgent matters to the forefront and hold the government accountable by discussing its policies or any incidents that require immediate attention. 
• As it interrupts the ordinary functioning of a house, it is considered as an extraordinary device. As it involves an element of censure of government, Rajya Sabha is not permitted the use of this device.
• The discussion on an adjournment motion should not last for less than two hours and thirty minutes.

Features and Procedure of Adjournment Motion:

• Initiation:
  • An adjournment motion can be moved by any member of the Lok Sabha.
  • It must be supported by at least 50 members to be admitted for discussion.
• Conditions for Admission:
  • The matter raised must be definite, urgent, and of public importance.
  • It should relate to a recent issue.
  • The motion should not cover trivial matters or those that do not require immediate discussion.
  • It should not deal with matters that are sub judice (under judicial consideration) or are already under discussion in the House.
  • It should not raise a question of privilege.
  • It should not revive discussion on a matter that has been discussed in the same session.
  • It should not raise any question that can be raised on a distinct motion. 

• Notice:
  • A notice for an adjournment motion must be given to the Speaker before 10 a.m. on the day it is proposed to be raised.
  • The notice should clearly state the matter to be discussed.
• Decision by the Speaker:
  • The Speaker has the discretion to admit or reject the motion.
  • If admitted, the Speaker will decide the time and date for the discussion.
• Discussion:
  • Once admitted, the motion leads to an adjournment of the regular business of the House.
  • The motion is debated, and members can discuss the issue in detail.
  • The concerned minister responds to the points raised by the members.
• Voting:
  • After the debate, the House may vote on the motion.
  • If the motion is passed, it is seen as a serious indictment of the government, indicating a lack of confidence in its handling of the issue.

Significance:

• Accountability: It serves as a tool for the opposition and members to hold the government accountable for its actions.
• Transparency: Promotes transparency in government functioning by bringing critical issues to public attention.
• Parliamentary Control: Reinforces the control of Parliament over the executive by ensuring that urgent matters are promptly addressed.
• However, The adjournment motion is rarely admitted due to stringent conditions and the discretion of the Speaker.
• In past, adjournment motions have been moved on various issues such as natural disasters, India-China border row, Pegasus issue etc.