New Delhi: Lok Sabha (LS) MPs will now be able to bring only three private member legislations in the lower house during a session. Also, the number of amendments to the motion of thanks on the President’s address, and on cut motions to a “demand for grant” have been capped at 10, each.
These changes have come into effect after the speaker amended the concerned directions in pursuance of rule 389 of the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the m Lok Sabha. Till now, there was no cap on the number of private member legislations which a lawmaker could bring in a particular session. Similarly, there was no limit to the number of amendments which could be brought to the motion of thanks and on the number of cut motions to a “demand for grant” in the lower house.
A private member legislation is a much sought- after privilege of MPs as they are quite keen to bring in as many private member bills during a session as possible. These pertain to a host of issues related to the socio-political and economic dynamics of the country. In the Lok Sabha, the post-lunch session every Friday is reserved for introducing and discussing private member legislations, and members cutting across party lines enthusiastically participate in it by bringing several legislations. The MPs are given a chance to bring a private member bill through a ballot system. At the same time, cut motions or amendments to the motion of thanks are brought in by political parties, especially those which are in the opposition.
According to the amendments learned to have been made by the speaker recently, "the existing direction 27 shall be renumbered as direction 27A and the new direction numbered 27 shall be added.”
According to this amendment, “a member shall be permitted to introduce not more than three private member legislations during a session. Where notice of bills received from a member is in excess of three, the first three admissible notices shall be taken into consideration, unless the member has indicated the preference.”
Similarly, the other amendment related to cut motions and the motion of thanks reads, “the existing direction 42 shall be renumbered as direction 42A and the following new direction numbered as 42 shall be added.”
As per this amendment, “a member shall be permitted to move not more than 10 amendments to the motion of thanks on the address by the president or not more than 10 cut motions to a demand for grant. If the notices of amendments to the motion of thanks or on cut motions to a demand received from a member are in excess of 10, the first 10 admissible amendments or cut motions as the case may be, shall be taken into consideration, unless the member has indicated the preference.”
The motion of thanks is undertaken in both houses of Parliament on the address of the President.
