Quorum and Lapse of bills due to dissolution of Lok Sabha
Q. Which of the following is true regarding lapse of bills on dissolution of Lok Sabha?- Published on 03 Mar 17a. Pending assurances that are to be examined by the Committee on Government Assurances do not lapse
b. A bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha does not lapse
c. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha lapse
d. All pending assurances lapse on dissolution of Lok Sabha in the Lok Sabha does not lapse
ANSWER: Pending assurances that are to be examined by the Committee on Government Assurances do not lapse
Quorum -
- Quorum is the minimum number of members required to be present in the House before it can transact any business.
- It is 1/10th of the total number of members in each House including the presiding officer.
- It means that there must be at least 55 members present in the Lok Sabha and 25 members present in the Rajya Sabha, if any business is to be conducted.
- If there is no quorum during a meeting of the House, it is the duty of the presiding officer either to adjourn the House or to suspend the meeting until there is a quorum.
Dissolution -
- Rajya Sabha, being a permanent House, is not subject to dissolution.
- Only the Lok Sabha is subject to dissolution.
- Unlike a prorogation, dissolution ends the very life of the existing House, and a new House is constituted after general elections are held.
The dissolution of the Lok Sabha may take place in either of two ways -
1. Automatic dissolution, i.e., on the expiry of its tenure of five years or the terms as extended during a national emergency.
2. Whenever the President decides to dissolve the House, which he is authorized to do. Once the Lok Sabha is dissolved before the completion of its normal tenure, the dissolution is irrevocable.
- When the Lok Sabha is dissolved, all business including bills, motions, resolutions, notices, petitions and so on pending before it or its committees lapse.
- They must be reintroduced in the newly-constituted Lok Sabha.
- However, some pending bills and all pending assurances that are to be examined by the Committee on Government Assurances do not lapse on the dissolution of theLok Sabha.
The position with respect to lapsing of bills is as below -
1. A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses (whether originating in the Lok Sabha or transmitted to it by the Rajya Sabha).
2. A bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha lapses.
3. A bill not passed by the two Houses due to disagreement and if the president has notified the holding of a joint sitting before the dissolution of Lok Sabha, does not lapse.
4. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha does not lapse.
5. A bill passed by both Houses but pending assent of the president does not lapse.
6. A bill passed by both Houses but returned by the president for reconsideration of Houses does not lapse.
