Question

Analyse the significance of “Question Hour”, “Zero Hour” and “Private Member Bill” as instruments to hold the government accountable to the people in general, and the Parliament in particular.

Answer 1

Answer:

Introduction:
The French philosopher Montesquieu propounded the concept of separation of power. Separation of powers divides the mechanism of governance into three organs i.e. Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary.
In India, the concept of separation of powers is not adopted too strictly. However, a system of checks and balances have been put in place in such a manner that the legislature holds the executive accountable for its policies and programmes. There are various Parliamentary devices used by the legislature.

Body:

Question Hour:
The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slotted for this. However, in 2014 onwards the Question Hour timing in the Rajya Sabha is from 11 am to 12 noon.
During this time, the members ask questions and the ministers usually give answers. The questions are of three kinds, namely, starred, unstarred and short notice.

Significance of Question Hour:
It is during this one hour that Members of Parliament ask questions of ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of their ministries.
The questions that MPs ask are designed to seek information and make ministers act upon the issues.
Over the last 70 years, MPs have successfully used this parliamentary device to bring government functioning in the public domain.
Their questions have exposed financial irregularities and brought data and information regarding government functioning to the public domain.
With the broadcasting of Question Hour since 1991, Question Hour has become one of the most visible aspects of parliamentary functioning.

Zero Hour:
Zero Hour is the time when Members of Parliament (MPs) can raise Issues of Urgent Public Importance. For raising matters during the Zero Hour, MPs must give the notice before 10 am to the Speaker/ Chairman on the day of the sitting.
The notice must state the subject they wish to raise in the House. However, Speaker, Lok Sabha / Chairman, Rajya Sabha may allow or decline a Member to raise a matter of importance.
Zero Hour is an Indian parliamentary innovation. The phrase does not find mention in the rules of procedure.

Significance of Zero Hour:
This hour is used by members of the house to raise issues of immediate concern. Generally, ministers give assurance to act upon the issue.
Its importance can be measured from the support it receives from citizens, media, MPs and presiding officers despite not being part of the rulebook.

Private Member Bill:
A bill introduced by the Member of Parliament (MP) who is not a Minister, i.e., a non-government member is known as the Private Members’ bill. Members of Parliament (MPs) other than ministers are private members.
Private Members can also move legislative proposals or bills which he/she thinks are appropriate to be present in the Statute Book.
However, it must be noted that a private member can give a maximum of three notices for the introduction of Private Members Bills during a Session.

Significance of Private Member Bill:
Presentation of the PMB(Private Member Bill) is perceived by many as incompetence and inaction on part of the government and intrusion into the respective ministry’s domain.
Governments in the past have also at times cut short the path of PMBs. If such a bill is seen getting support in Parliament, the government requests the MP to withdraw it and promises to introduce it as a Government Bill instead. For example, The member who had tabled The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 was requested by the government to withdraw it.

Conclusion:
Therefore, through these devices, the legislature can watch and control the Government and let the public know the actions of the government. These devices not only question the government but also force it to justify its actions.