Adjournment Motion in Indian Parliament: Meaning, Procedure, and Importance

 Adjournment Motion is a special procedure in the Lok Sabha used to bring a matter of urgent public importance to the attention of members. It allows MPs to raise serious concerns and indirectly criticize the government’s actions or policies. 

Unlike regular discussions, this motion is considered extraordinary because it interrupts the normal business of the House. 

To be admitted, it requires the support of at least 50 members, and the discussion must last for a minimum of two and a half hours. This ensures that pressing issues affecting the public are discussed immediately in Parliament.

What is Adjournment Motion in Parliament?

The Adjournment Motion is a proposal to set aside the planned business of the House to address a specific issue of national importance and urgency.

It is important to note that this procedural device can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is not allowed to use this specific mechanism. This difference exists because the Adjournment Motion carries an element of strong disapproval, or censure, against the government. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha.

Purpose and Impact

The primary goal of this procedure is to highlight the government’s failure to act on a very serious and recent issue. The issue must be related to the Central Government's duties and responsibilities.

• It makes the ruling executive directly accountable to the legislature for a sudden crisis.

• It allows opposition lawmakers to demand an immediate debate and explanation from the government.

• If the House adopts the motion, the entire sitting automatically stands adjourned.

Adjournment Motion is Moved with the Consent of Whom?

An adjournment motion is moved with the consent of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

A Member of Parliament (MP) who wishes to move this motion must first follow a set procedure:

1. Notice Requirement: The MP must give a written notice of the motion. The notice must be given not less than two hours before the sitting starts on the proposed day of the debate.

2. Speaker’s Consent: The Speaker is the final authority to decide on the admissibility of the motion. The Speaker can, at their discretion, either grant or refuse consent. They may even consult the concerned Minister or members to know the facts before making a decision.

3. Leave of the House: If the Speaker gives consent, the MP who gave the notice rises in their place and asks for the House's leave (permission) to move the adjournment.

4. Support of 50 Members: If another member objects to the motion, the Speaker asks all members who support the motion to rise in their seats. For the motion to be admitted and discussed, it must have the support of at least 50 members. If fewer than 50 members stand up, the motion is not granted leave.

Restrictions on Moving the Motion

Because the Adjournment Motion is an exceptional procedure that stops all other work, strict rules govern when it can be allowed. The right to move this motion is subject to several restrictions:

• One Matter Only: The motion must be limited to discussing a single, definite matter.

• Recent Event: The issue raised must be of recent occurrence.

• Factual and Urgent: It must be a definite, factual, and urgent matter of significant public interest.

• No Vague Issues: It cannot be framed in vague, general terms.

• No Privilege Question: It should not raise any question of privilege (a breach of the rights of a member or the House).

• No Repetition: It must not revive a discussion on a topic that has already been debated during the same Parliament session.

• No Judicial Matters: It cannot deal with any subject that is currently being decided by a court of law (under adjudication).

• Central Responsibility: The matter must primarily concern the responsibility of the Central Government, not a State Government.

Time Limit for Discussion

If the motion is admitted, the discussion generally takes place on the same day, usually starting at 4:00 PM. The debate on an Adjournment Motion must last for not less than two hours and thirty minutes. Once the discussion begins, it must be concluded and voted upon on the same day; the Speaker cannot postpone the vote to the next sitting.

Adjournment Motion Example

A real-life adjournment motion example clearly shows its function .

In July 2024, Opposition MPs moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha. The purpose was to immediately suspend all other legislative work to discuss the massive public concern surrounding the alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination. Since this matter had nationwide implications, was of urgent public importance, and was a very recent event, it met the criteria for this motion.

Similarly, in July 2021, the Shiromani Akali Dal political party decided to move an Adjournment Motion in the Lok Sabha. This was to protest and debate the three controversial farm laws passed by the government at that time.