In order to turn these causes into positive actions and to guide the government into implementing correct policies, parliamentarians have certain tools which can be used to project the issues on the floor of the House. As opposition members we need to use all the means possible to resolve misgovernance issues.
Question Hour is an accountability tool which allows the legislature to hold the executive answerable to the public and make the MNAs aware of the activities of the ministries and divisions. Members can also seek any information on matters of national significance, as well as draw the attention of the government to public grievances so as to get them addressed.
Questions are to be submitted when the Assembly is prorogued. Whoever is in the queue first gets priority for questions being put up.
Kinds of questions:
Starred Questions: It is a question to which a written reply is read out by the minister. When a question has been answered, any Member may ask upto two supplementary questions for further elucidation of the answer.
Unstarred Question: It is when a written reply is supplied but not read out.
Short notice questions: in case of a matter of immediate public importance, a Member may ask a question on shorter notice with consent of the Speaker and concerned minister.
Call Attention Notice: A Member can call attention of a Minister to any matter of urgent public importance and the minister may make a brief statement or ask for time to make statement at a later hour or date. Notice for CAs are to be given one day before the day on which the notice is to be considered.
Notices lapse if they have not been taken up at the sitting for which they have been given.
Adjournment Motions: A member may move a motion with Speaker’s consent for the adjournment of normal business of the House to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance. An adjournment Motion is ordinarily admissible if it relates to an issue of urgent public importance. The discussion if considered admissible by the Speaker takes place for 2 hours. Each member participating in discussion may speak for upto 10 minutes.
Point of Order: A point of order relates exclusively to the interpretation or enforcement of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly or such Articles of the Constitution as regulate the business of the Assembly .
Resolution: The resolve of the house to move on issues of national and international importance so that government may make policies accordingly.
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