In a recent development, members of the Rajya Sabha from 12 opposition parties have moved a no-confidence resolution against the Deputy Chairman over the passage of two highly debated farm bills via a voice vote.
Understanding Voice Vote
During a voice vote, the speaker poses a question to the house. The house then voices its opinion in the form of ‘ayes’ for yes or ‘noes’ for no. This decision is primarily based on which side is louder. A voice vote holds the advantage of being quick. However, the major downside is that it’s not accurately representative, as the speaker decides the outcome based on volume rather than the actual count of votes.
Resolution Against the Deputy Chairman
The opposition parties argue that the Deputy Chairman has flouted all aspects of law, procedure, parliamentary procedures, and principles of fairness. They believe that he did not permit points of order to be raised nor allowed numerous members of the Rajya Sabha, from diverse political parties, to speak against the farm bills. The no-confidence resolution under consideration is aimed at removing the Deputy Chairman. This is distinct from the No Confidence Motion stipulated in Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure and conduct of Lok Sabha, which can lead to the resignation of the Council of Ministers.
Historical Precedents
Resolutions for similar reasons were previously moved against the first Lok Sabha Speaker G V Mavalankar in 1951, Speaker Sardar Hukam Singh in 1966, and Speaker Balram Jakhar in 1987. These resolutions were ultimately disregarded by the House.
Possible Government Countermeasures
To counter this, the government could consider suspending the Opposition MPs involved in the chaotic scenes witnessed in the House, invoking Rule 256 related to member suspension. This decision would rest with the Chairman. Additionally, the ruling party could also bring a privilege motion against some Opposition MPs. This sort of motion comes in play when a parliamentary privilege breach by a member is suspected.
The Deputy Chairman in the Framework of Rajya Sabha
The Deputy Chairman is elected from amongst Rajya Sabha members. The role is not subordinate to the Chairman. The Deputy Chairman assumes the Chairman’s duties when the office is vacant or when the Vice-President acts as President or fulfils the Presidency functions. In both scenarios, he possesses all the powers of the Chairman. However, when presiding over the House, like the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman can’t vote initially, only casting a vote in case of a tie.
According to Article 90 of the Constitution, the Deputy Chairman may vacate his office for any of the following reasons: if he ceases to be a Rajya Sabha member; if he writes a resignation to the Chairman; or if a majority of all then-Rajya Sabha members pass a removal resolution after providing 14 days’ advance notice.
Last Modified: February 9, 2024