Bhojpal Youth Parliament - 2017

Bhojpal Youth Parliament – 2017

Lok Sabha

Rules of Procedure(ROPs)

Prepared By:

Aditi Tyagi Rahul Saini Harshit Hassanwalia

(Speaker) (Deputy Speaker) (Advisor)

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Rules Of Procedure and Regulations of Lok Sabha

The rules of Lok Sabha resemble as far as possible the rules and procedures of Lok Sabha. But the
rules have been changed keeping in mind the timings of the Parliament.

Chapter I
1. SEATING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY MEMBERS

The side majority will form the Government. Ruling party will sit on the right side of the chair.
Opposition and other alliances are to sit on the left side of the chair.

2. LANGUAGE

The committee shall be Bilingual i.e. both Hindi and English are allowed in Parliament.

Chapter II
3. PROCEDURE

The procedure of the session of BHOJPAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT resembles as far as possible the
procedure of the House (Lok Sabha). The following procedure shall take place during two day session
of Mock Parliament.

 National Anthem
 Oath of Speaker
 Oath of Parliamentarians
 Briefing of rules by the speaker of House.
 Statement from members of the House.
 Discussion Hour
 Question Hour
 Zero Hour
 Voting (Simple Majority)
 Declaration of the result of Motion on the floor (whether passed or failed)
 Statement of Speaker
 National Song

Note: An informal session or adjournment of maximum 15 minutes can be allotted to the house on
the sole discretion of the chair. The Speaker can discontinue any motion any time for the benefit
of the debate. The Speaker has the authority to put into effect any order or procedure that the
Speaker may feel is required for the proper functioning. For the benefit of debate the Speaker has
the right to start the second day directly from any point; however the same shall be informed at
the end of day1. The legislative business will be given preference but in case no bill introduced
then the session will return to the discussion hours per the case maybe. The Speaker may on the
sole discretion amend or form any rule at any time for the benefit of the committee. “Like the
practice operating in the Lok Sabha, the session of Youth Parliament will start with the arrival of
the Speaker which is announced by the Marshal who first comes in the House to ascertain
whether there is quorum in the House which should be at least 10 per cent of total membership of
the House.

As soon as the Speaker arrives in the Chamber, Marshal will announce his arrival with the words
“Hon’ble Members, the Hon’ble Speaker”or (inHindi):“माननीयसभासद, ”.
Thereafter the entire House stands up. The Speaker before taking his seat first bows to his left, then
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to his right and then in front of him. The Members from the respective sides also respectfully bow to
the chair before taking their seats.”

4. OATH OR AFFIRMATION:
The Speaker will take up the procedure of the House in the order in which it is printed in the list of
procedure or may take oath collectively. A newly elected member of the House is required to make
an Oath or affirmation at the commencement of a sitting of the House. The prescribed form of Oath
or affirmation is:

"I........., having been elected (or nominated) a member of (Youth Parliament) House of the People
do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the
Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India
and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter." (InEnglish)

रा शपथ

मै-------------------- अमुक-------------- जो युवा संसद का / हु आ

हू (या नाम हु आ हू ) शपथ लेता हू (या से करता हू )

मै का पालन व इस दे श एकता और

बनाये रखूग
ँ ा तथा िजस पद को करने वाला हू उसका ”

5. STATEMENTS FROM THE HOUSE

 After establishing quorum, the speaker will ask for statements from the members. A total of
8 members (4 each from government and opposition) are given time on the floor to make
statements.
 The leader of the house is the default first speaker and the leader of opposition is the
default last speaker. However they may pass on their chance to speak to whoever they wish
to.
 The other 6 speakers are chosen by the discretion of the chair when the MPs are asked for
statements.
 The maximum time allowed to make statements is two minutes.
 Agendas for discussion hour (explained in the next section) are allowed to be sent once first
two speakers have given their statements.

6. DISCUSSION HOUR

 A discussion hour is the time allotted (maximum 40 minutes) for the discussion on a sub-
agenda which the members feel should be discussed in front of the house. The total time of
all the discussion shall be an hour.
 All agendas for discussion hour are supposed to be sent prior the commencement of
discussion hour.
 Agendas for discussion hour are allowed to be sent once first two speakers have given their
opening statements.
 The process of putting up agendas for a discussion is in writing and follows the given format:
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Name of the constituency

Topic of the discussion

Total Duration (not to exceed 30 minutes)

Individual Speaker Time (not to exceed 90seconds)

 The speaker shall keep the agendas in chronological order and first put the agenda to vote
which is received first by the board.
 The Speaker may withdraw any agenda he/she feels has no relation to the agenda. However
he/she has to notify the particular MP of the same on which the MP is allowed to send a chit
explaining why the agenda should not be withdrawn.
 On receiving the agenda, the speaker will ask for seconds and oppositions, if no seconds,
the motion fails and in case of seconds but no oppositions the agenda clearly passes.
 On receiving both seconds and oppositions the Speaker will put the agenda to vote and the
result is decided by a simple majority of placard vote.
 An extension to a discussion hour may be obtained if the total time does not exceed 40
minutes or otherwise on the discretion of the chair.

NOTE: The non-starred questions which are meant to be answered in written form can be asked to
each other by members of the parliament during discussion hour.

7. QUESTION HOUR
It is the one hour after the discussion hour where the members of the house are free to ask
questions to each other on matters pertaining to agenda or on a national emergency provided that
such a question is sent in writing to the said member via the speaker and with his due approval
before the commencement of question hour. The question has been defined as an instrument by
which a member can elicit information on any matter of public importance.

Starred Questions: Meant for oral answers

Non-starred Questions: For written answer

The sender MP is allowed to ask a supplementary question, with the permission of the Speaker, after
the reply is obtained from the Minister concerned for starred questions. The chit on which the
question is sent has to be properly marked/written as Starred or non-starred to be in proper format.

a. Any Starred question may be changed to non-starred on the discretion of the chair. The chair shall
notify the sender of the same.

b. Answers to Non-starred questions are mandatory and have to be sent to the recipient MP via the
Speaker before the end of question hour.

c. Not more than two starred questions are allowed to be asked to a member. In case a particular
MP has already received his quota of two starred questions then the Speaker shall change the
further incoming starred questions as non-starred and notify the sender MP of the same.

d. Similarly not more than twenty (20) non-starred questions are allowed to be asked to a member.
In case 20 non-starred questions have already been sent to a particular MP the Speaker shall return
the question to its sender.

e. One can send maximum 2 starred questions.

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The right to ask a question is governed by the following conditions:

a. It shall be clearly and precisely expressed and shall not be too general incapable of any specific
answer or in the nature of a leading question

b. If it contains a statement, the member shall make himself responsible for the accuracy of the
statement.

c. It shall not contain arguments, inferences, ironical expressions, Imputations, epithets or

defamatory statements

d. It shall not ask for an expression of opinion or the solution of an abstract legal question or of a
hypothetical proposition

e. It shall not ask as to the character or conduct of any person except in his official or public capacity

f. It shall not ordinarily exceed 150 words

g. It shall not relate to a matter which is not primarily the concern of the Government of India.

h. It shall not reflect on the character or conduct of any person whose conduct can only be
challenged on a substantive motion

i. It shall not make or imply a charge of a personal character.

j. It shall not raise questions of policy too large to be dealt with within the limits of an answer to a
question

k. It shall not repeat in substance questions already answered or to which an answer has been
refused

l. It shall not ask for information on trivial matters

m. It shall not ordinarily ask for information on matters of past history

n. It shall not raise matters under the control of bodies or persons not primarily responsible to the
Government of India.

o. It shall not ask or information on matter which is under adjudication by a court of law having
jurisdiction in any part of India

NOTE: The Speaker shall decide whether a question, or a part thereof, is or is not admissible under
these rules and may disallow any question, or a part thereof, when in his opinion it is an abuse of
the right of questioning or is calculated to obstruct or prejudicially affect the procedure of the
House or is in contravention of these rules.

8. Zero Hour
a. It starts immediately after the Question Hour.

b. During the Zero Hour any question pertaining to agenda or a national emergency can be raised by
a member without any prior written request.

c. The Zero Hour can extend to any period of time depending upon the Speaker's direction.

d. The Government is not obliged to answer any of the questions raised in the Zero Hour. However
in the context of the debate it is highly expected from them to answer all the questions.
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e. The Speaker shall choose the MPs on his discretion

9. CALLING ATTENTION NOTICE(OPTIONAL)

The idea of Calling Attention Notice has originated in our country itself a combination of questions
for answers with supplementary and brief comments on:

a. matter of urgency and public importance.

b. The calling attention notice has to be sent to in written to the Speaker who shall use the time
between two procedural hours i.e. that is Discussion Hour and Question Hour or Question Hour &
Question Hour and Zero Hour for the same. However the Speaker is allowed to allow calling
attention notice at any time if the matter of emergency or has to be resolved urgently.

c. The Opposition gets a chance to criticize the Government and its policies, Procedure: The Speaker
calls the name of the member (or members) in whose name the item has been mentioned. On being
called, the member raises in his/her seat and calls the attention of the Minister concerned and
requests him/her to make a statement on the matter. The form, in which the member calls the
attention, is as follows: I call the attention of the Minister ................to the following matter of public
importance and I request that he/she may make a statement thereon.

d. The Minister then makes a statement of facts. The member or members, in whose name or names
the notice has been issued, are permitted to ask questions seeking clarification arising out of the
statement made by the Minister.

e. The Minister after hearing all the questions raised by the Members will give a consolidated reply
thereto and after that there would be no further discussion onthe matter.

10. ADJOURNMENT MOTION (OPTIONAL)

Any matter which is of urgent importance and which is so grave that it affects their interest and
safety of the country can be raised through an adjournment motion. In order that the adjournment
motion be admitted it must

1. Be related to a single specific issue,

2. Be urgent, and

3. Be of public importance.

11. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION(OPTIONAL)

a. There is an express constitutional provision which lays down that the Council of Ministers will be
responsible to the Lok Sabha

b. In a parliamentary democracy it means that the Ministers hold their offices so long as they enjoy
the confidence of the Lok Sabha. The moment the Lok Sabha expresses its no-confidence in the
Ministry the Prime Minister and his/her Ministers have to leave. Thus the Prime Minister and his/her
Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.

c. For the benefit of debate this motion shall not be allowed to be raised before the second day of
youth parliament.

d. The member who wishes to raise this particular motion shall take proper permission before
raising this motion for moving this motion in the house; the member has to give before
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commencement of the sitting for that day, a written notice of his motion to the Secretary General. If
the Speaker is of the opinion that the motion is in order, he calls upon the member to seek leave of
the House. The member then moves the following motion”. “I beg for leave of the House to move
the No-Confidence Motion”. The speaker reads the motion to the House and requests those
members who are in favour of leave being granted to rise in their places and if not less than ten
percent of the total membership of the house stands, the leave is granted by the House. However, in
case less than 10 percent rise in their place, the leave is not granted by the House and the motion is
not taken up for discussion. Where, however, leave has been granted for moving of the no-
confidence motion the Speaker will announce the time at which the motion will be taken up for
discussion. On the appointed time the Speaker will call the member who will move the motion in the
following words: “That this House expresses its want of confidence in the council of Ministers”. After
moving the motion, the mover will make a short speech followed by speeches by the other members
of the House belonging to opposition as well as ruling parties. Discussion on No-Confidence Motion
is not confined to any particular subject.

It is open to any member to raise any matter or comment upon any policy and action of the
Government during the course of discussion. Members from ruling as well as opposition parties
participate in the discussion. After the members have spoken on the motion, the Prime Minister
gives a reply to the charges levelled against his Government. Thereafter the mover of the motion is
given chance to reply.

e. The Speaker then puts the motion before the House and obtains the decision of the House by
voice–vote.

f. On receiving the agenda, the speaker will ask for support. For this motion to pass it shall require an
affirmative vote of 1/6thmembers

g. The Speaker in this motion shall allow every question necessary to determine the decision of the
House on the motion.

h. The Speaker will allot specific time period for speeches and will allow as many speakers as
possible in this particular motion.

i. After the members have spoken on the motion, the Prime Minister gives a reply to the charges
labelled against his/her government. The mover of the motion has the right to reply.

12. PRIVILEGE MOTION

When the Speaker feels there has been sufficient debate on the question he shall put forward the
motion to vote.

a. It is a motion raised by a Member of Parliament. He charges the Minister with committing a

breach of the privilege of the House by withholding or distorting facts.

b. The motion can be raised at any time in the parliament

c. The Minister is given a chance to reply and the MP who has raised the motion is allowed to ask
supplementary questions.

13. ANTI-DEFECTION LAW/ ANTI-DEFECTIONMOTION

If a member of the parliament votes (or abstains) against the directives issued by his/her party,
without the written permission of the said party, the member stands to be disqualified on grounds
of defection if such a request is made to the speaker by the leader of the party in the house or in
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case of the leader standing on defection- any member of the house belonging to that party. In case
of single-seat parties, the defection is to be decided at the discretion of the speaker.

14. PRIVILEGES TO THE MPs

These privileges in the form of permission or points are allowed at all times when a speaker is not
speaking or immediately after the speaker has finished speaking. Point of Information is not allowed
at certain times as mentioned above in relevant sections Permission to rise a motion is only allowed
at certain time periods as previously mentioned along with the motions

PERMISSION TO RAISE A MOTION: A MP at any time can raise his/her placard and seek permission
from the chair to raise a motion.

POINT OF INQUIRY: Enquiry about parliamentary procedures and conduct to the chair

POINT OF ORDER: This can be used in case of a factual error.

RIGHT TO REPLY: If a particular member present feels that a grave (or false) statement has made
by others towards that member, he/she may privilege the right of reply with the permission of the
chair.

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEDGE: This may be used in order to remove a personal discomfort.

POINT OF INFORMATION: This may be used to put up questions on a members’ statement. (Shall
be in writing until and unless allowed).

Consideration for Drawing up the Merit List

The following points will be taken into Consideration while assessing the performances of speakers:

(i) Discipline and Decorum

(ii) Observance of Parliamentary procedures

(iii) Selection of Subjects for Questions, and Supplementaries and Quality of Answers thereto

(iv) Selection of Subjects for Debates ; Substantivity ; relevancy and legal basis

(v) Delivery or Quality of Speeches delivered, Standard of Debate

(vi) General Assessment of the Performance as a whole

Note: All the chits will be marked and will have significant weight-age while deciding the final
awards. Party Policy & Role Rehearsal will be one of the marking criteria.,(The ratio of weight-age of
chits as to speeches will depend upon the decision of the Speaker depending upon the Size of
committee and other factors as per the case maybe.)

14. IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND

a. Attire Indian/Western formals to be strictly followed.

b. Indian Wear is encouraged.

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c. Laptops, mobile phones, tablets etc. are aloud but parliamentarians are not allowed to assess
internet.

d. No internet usage allowed inside the house.

e. The participants should show utmost respect to the Chair.

f. They should abide by the decisions of the Chair and should have faith in his impartiality and
judgment. The participants are encouraged to tap desks in agreement.

g. One may not argue on points which are nowhere related to the debate, this may fetch you
negative marks.

h. One may not use any unparliamentarily word while the house is in session. One may have

to apologize (in oral or written) for the same or can be suspended from the session as per the case
may be depending upon the decision of the chair.

Disclaimer
The Executive Board has tried its level best to draft the rules and regulations for the purpose of
parliamentary session in accordance with the guide lines issued by ministry of parliamentary affairs,
Government of India (1998).The discrepancies between Bhojpal Youth Parliament Rules and Lok
Sabha rules and the actual procedures are just to intensify the debate. We apologize in advance for
any legal mistake that may have occurred from our side any contradiction to the government rules
and regulations if found are unintentional

The Executive board is at its own discretion to change the stated ROP’S for facilitating
Debate in the committee and for Bona Fide reasons .