NO-TRUST MOTION: HOW IT IS MOVED AND WHO ALL HAVE FACED IT

A peep into no-confidence motion in Parliament, in the light of I.N.D.I.A bloc submitting such a notice against Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, to the Secretary General of the Upper House.

- Ruchira Talapatra

A no-confidence motion, or vote of no confidence, is a fundamental instrument in parliamentary democracies, enabling legislatures to express a lack of trust in the ruling government or specific officeholders, potentially leading to their resignation. In India, this mechanism is pivotal in maintaining the accountability of the executive to the legislature.

PROCEDURE IN THE LOK SABHA In India, a no-confidence motion can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. Any member of the Lok Sabha may propose such a motion by submitting a written notice to the Speaker, outlining the reasons for the motion. The motion requires the support of at least 50 members to be admitted for discussion. Once admitted, a debate is scheduled, culminating in a vote. If a majority of the members present and voting support the motion, it passes, necessitating the resignation of the entire Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, as it signifies that the government no longer holds the confidence of the Lok Sabha.

HISTORICAL INSTANCES OF NO-CONFIDENCE MOTIONS LEADING TO GOVERNMENT RESIGNATION Three motions have come in the past against Lok Sabha Speakers - against G V Mavalankar on December 18, 1954, against Hukam Singh on November 24, 1966 and against Balram Jakhar on April 15, 1987.

While the motions against Mavalankar and Jakhar were negatived, that against Hukam Singh was rejected as less than 50 members rose in the chair to take up the motion.

Since India's independence, several no-confidence motions have been moved in the Lok Sabha, with a few leading to the government's downfall:

Morarji Desai's Government (1979)

Background: Morarji Desai became India's Prime Minister in 1977, leading the Janata Party government, the first non-Congress government post-independence. Internal conflicts within the Janata Party, especially between factions led by Desai and other senior leaders, weakened the government's cohesion.