Handbook for Members of Rajya Sabha
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
HANDBOOK FOR MEMBERS OF RAJYA SABHA RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI January, 2010 © RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI http://parliamentofindia.nic.in http://rajyasabha.nic.in Email: [email protected] Published by Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha and printed by Government of India Press, New Delhi. P R E F A C E This HANDBOOK is intended to serve as a guide on Parliamentary Practices and Procedures, amenities available to Members and certain other miscellaneous matters, which may be of interest to Members of Rajya Sabha, particularly the new Members. For purpose of facility, the Handbook explains the rules and procedures in simple language. The Handbook contains comprehensive information on the Parliamentary Committees, including the Department- related Committees. Besides, topics such as Parliamentary Friendship Groups and Parliamentary Fora, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Publications etc., have also been included in the publication. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) related services that are available to Members have also been included in the publication. The Handbook is only a guide to various parliamentary rules and procedures and, therefore, it cannot be treated as an authoritative text on the relevant provision of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha etc. For authoritative text, Members are advised to consult the relevant provisions of the Constitution of India, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha and the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 and the rules made thereunder. The term “House” has been used in this publication for the Rajya Sabha, unlike its definition in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha. The Handbook has been published after completely revising and updating the earlier version published in 2002. NEW DELHI, V. K. AGNIHOTRI, 01 January, 2010 Secretary-General. (i) C O N T E N T S Page CHAPTER 1 RAJYA SABHA—COMPOSITION, BUSINESS AND PROCEDURE 1.1 Composition ............................................................. 1 1.2 Sessions of Rajya Sabha ........................................ 2 1.3 Address by the President and Motion of Thanks thereon ..................................................................... 3 1.4 Oath or Affirmation by Members .............................. 5 1.5 Seating of Members ................................................. 6 1.5A Attendance ............................................................... 7 1.6 Time of Sittings ........................................................ 7 1.7 Government Business .............................................. 7 1.8 Private Members’ Business ..................................... 8 1.9 Quorum .................................................................... 8 1.10 Voting and Division ................................................... 9 1.11 Questions ................................................................. 12 1.11A Short Notice Questions ............................................ 23 1.12 Half-an-Hour Discussion ........................................... 24 1.13 Statistical information relating to Questions ............ 25 1.14 Calling Attention ....................................................... 25 1.15 Matters raised with permission ................................ 27 1.16 Special Mentions ...................................................... 29 1.17 Short Duration Discussion ....................................... 31 1.18 Motion ...................................................................... 32 1.19 Motions for Modification of Rules, Regulations, etc., laid on the Table of the Rajya Sabha ...................... 33 1.20 Bills .......................................................................... 34 1.21 Private Members’ Bills ............................................. 41 (iii) (iv) CONTENTS Page 1.22 Amendments to Clauses, etc., of Government or Private Members’ Bills ............................................. 43 1.23 Adjournment of debate on, and withdrawal of Bills.... 44 1.24 Bill originating in the Lok Sabha and transmitted to the Rajya Sabha. ..................................................... 45 1.25 Joint Sittings ............................................................ 47 1.26 Statutory Resolutions ............................................... 48 1.27 Private Members’ Resolutions.................................. 49 1.28 Budget ...................................................................... 51 1.29 Petitions ................................................................... 52 1.30 Supply of Parliamentary Papers to Members at their residences ................................................................ 53 1.31 General Procedure for giving Notices ....................... 55 CHAPTER 2 GENERAL MATTERS 2.1 Parliamentary Terms ................................................ 58 2.2 Parliamentary Customs and Conventions ................ 68 2.3 Parliamentary Etiquette ............................................ 70 2.4 Code of Conduct for Members ................................. 74 2.5 Important Places in Parliament House and Parliament House Annexe .......................................................... 76 2.6 Procedure regarding allegations against Members ....... 79 2.7 Rules to be observed by Members desiring to participate in a Debate .............................................................. 79 2.8 Language to be used by Members in debate .......... 79 2.9 Simultaneous interpretation of proceedings ............. 79 2.10 Simultaneous interpretation panel ............................ 80 2.11 Official Report of Proceedings.................................. 82 2.12 Leave of Absence from the sittings of the Rajya Sabha ............................................................ 83 2.13 Resignation of seat in the House ............................ 84 2.14 Notice Office ............................................................. 85 2.15 Stenographic assistance to Members...................... 88 CONTENTS (v) Page 2.16 Publications Counter ................................................ 89 2.17 Security arrangements in Parliament Complex ....... 89 2.18 Obituary References................................................. 93 2.19 Arrest and Detention, etc. and Release of Members 94 CHAPTER 3 PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES 3.1 Standing Committees (House Committees) of Rajya Sabha ............................................................. 95 3.2 Standing Committees (General) ............................... 111 3.3 Financial Committees .............................................. 112 3.4 Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees .............................................................. 113 3.5 Joint Parliamentary Committees .............................. 116 3.6 Statutory Joint Committees ...................................... 119 3.7 Ad-hoc Committees ................................................. 119 3.8 Parliamentary Fora ................................................... 120 3.9 Parliamentary Friendship Groups (PFGs) ................ 122 CHAPTER 4 AMENITIES TO MEMBERS 4.1 Salary, Allowances and Pension .............................. 124 4.2 Travelling Allowances for forward and return journeys performed for attending official business .................. 125 4.3 Travelling Allowances for intermediate journeys ....... 126 4.4 Allowances during short intervals between two sittings of a Committee or the termination of one session and the commencement of another session, etc. ... 127 4.5 Rail Travel Facilities ................................................. 127 4.6 Air Journeys ............................................................. 128 4.7 Special Facility to blind and physically incapacitated Members .................................................................. 128 4.8 Travelling and Daily Allowances for attending the meetings of the Consultative Committees of the Government of India ............................................... 129 4.9 Allowances for journeys abroad ............................... 129 (vi) CONTENTS Page 4.10 Payment of Salary and Travelling and Daily Allowances Bills ..................................................... 129 4.11 Reimbursement of Medical Expenses ..................... 131 4.12 Procedure for Medical Treatment Abroad ................. 131 4.13 Loss of Identity Card-cum-Railway Pass ................. 131 4.14 Advance for purchase of conveyance ....................... 132 4.15 Pension to Ex-members of Parliament .................... 132 4.16 Family Pension ........................................................ 133 4.17 Computers ................................................................ 133 4.18 Accommodation ....................................................... 134 CHAPTER 5 LIBRARY, REFERENCE AND RESEARCH SERVICE 5.1 Objective of the Service ........................................... 146 5.2 Parliament Library .................................................... 146 5.3 Rare and Art Books ................................................. 147 5.4 Literature on Indian Languages ................................ 147 5.5 Location of the Library ............................................. 147 5.6 Working Hours ......................................................... 147 5.7 Stacking Arrangements ............................................ 148 5.8 Catalogue ................................................................. 148 5.9 Issue and Return of