Rajasthan Legislative Assembly - Procedural Devices

Questions :

There are three categories of the questions :

- Starred
- Unstarred
- Short Notice Questions

It is essential to give questions in the prescribed form with 14 clear days notice for starred and unstarred questions and shorter than 10 clear days notice for Short Notice Questions.

Unstarred questions are also admitted in intersession period. A member may give notice of not more than one unstarred question a week during an  inter-sessional  period.   Reply  to such a question is invariably sent by the Government direct to the member within a period of 15 days with a copy of the reply to the Legislative Assembly.

The decision regarding the admissibility of questions is the sole prerogative of the Speaker.

Motions :

Besides  questions,  the  members   may  raise  the  matters  of  urgent  and   current public importance  before  the  House  through   the devices  like Half an Hour Discussion, Calling Attention Motion,   Notice  Under Rule 295 (Special Mention Procedure)  for Short Duration Discussion,  Adjournment  Motion etc.

Legislation :

All  the  legislative  proposals   are  to be brought in the form of Bills before the legislature. These   can  either  be  Government  Bills  or  Private   Members  Bills.  Government Bills are prepared  and  drafted   by  the  Law Department  of the State government. There are three readings (stages) for passing a Bill. The first reading means motion for leave to introduce a Bill and its adoption. The second reading consists of  discussion on the principles of the Bill and  clause  by  clause  consideration.   The  third  reading  is completed when a motion for passing a Bill is adopted by the House.After a Bill is passed by the House, it is presented to the   Governor / President  for assent.  With  such  assent  and   its publication in the official gazette, it becomes law of the State.

Budget procedure :

The  Budget  is  presented   by  the  Finance Minister and no discussion on the Budget takes place   on  the  day  it is  presented  to  the House. About four days are allowed for general discussion on the Budget.  After the general discussion on the Budget, demands-for-grants of  the  various departments of the government are discussed by the House as may be proposed by the Business Advisory Committee and the rest of the demands are passed by applying guillotine. This is done because of tight business schedule of the House. Consequently , as soon as grants have been passed by the House, Bill is introduced to provide for appropriation out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of all Moneys required by the Government to meet the expenditure authorised by the House.

Voting procedure :

Generally, the decisions of the House are ascertained by a voice vote. In case the Opposition challenges the veracity of such a voice vote or when the opposition desires the votes to by recorded, members are requested to go to the Ayes and Noes Lobby as the case may be for a division.