New Delhi: According to a circular issued by Lok Sabha secretariat ‘Members are informed that, owing to Address of President to both Houses assembled together on 31st January, 2023 and Presentation of Union Budget on 1st February, 2023, there will be no ‘Zero Hour’ on 31st January and 1st February, 2023. Members are also informed that matters of Urgent Public Importance raised during ‘Zero Hour’ will be taken up from 2nd February, 2023.’
The circular further informed “ However, it is for kind information of members that to raise Matters of Urgent Public Importance during ‘Zero Hour’ on Thursday, the 2nd February, 2023, they may table notices from 1000 hours on Wednesday, the 1st February, 2023 to 0900 hours on Thursday, the 2nd February, 2023 either online through e-portal or manually in Parliamentary Notice Office (PNO) and all such notices so received will be ballotted on Thursday, the 2nd February, 2023 soon after 0900 hours.
Hon’ble members are informed that an e-portal has been put in place to facilitate members to submit their notices online to raise matters of Urgent Public Importance during ‘Zero Hour’. Members can also physically hand over the notices of ‘Zero Hour’ for which printed form is available in the Parliamentary Notice Office.
The following procedure for raising Matters of Urgent Public Importance during ‘Zero Hour’ shall be followed:
(i) Notices may be given by the members from 1000 hours of a given day to 0900 hours of the Session day on which the members desire to raise their matters in the House;
(ii) The notices received upto 0900 hours on the Session day on which the members desire to raise their matters in the House would be put to computerised ballot after 0900 hours;
(iii) Twenty matters, as per their priority in the ballot, will be allowed to be raised on a day. However 4-5 notices over and above these twenty matters may be allowed to be raised on the basis of their importance at the discretion of Hon’ble Speaker;
(iv) The order in which the matters will be raised shall be decided by the Hon’ble Speaker at his discretion;
(v) The matter proposed to be raised should be under the jurisdiction of the Government of India so that it would be easier for the Minister concerned to respond to it, in case she/he desires to do so;
(vi) Matter proposed to be raised should not contain any statement making allegations; and
(vii) Notices shall not relate to matters within the jurisdiction of Speaker.
- Notices for Monday or first working day of a week may be given on Friday or last working day of the previous week between 1000 hours on Friday or last working day of the previous week and 0900 hours on Monday or first working day of the week.
- The portal will not remain operational from immediately after 0900 hours to 1000 hours on all Session days. 4. Zero Hour portal will be opened from 1000 hours on Wednesday, 1st February, 2023. The portal will remain open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for tabling notices online. Accordingly, notices for raising matters on Thursday, 02.02.2023 may be given from 1000 hours on Wednesday, 01.02.2023 to 0900 hours on Thursday, 02.02.2023 and all such notices so received will be balloted on Thursday, 02.02.2023 after 0900 hours.
Regarding the display of result of ballot regarding Matters of Urgent Public Importance during ‘Zero Hour’ the circular said “ Hon’ble members are informed that the notices on matters of urgent public importance to be raised during ‘Zero Hour’ received from 1000 hours of a given day to 0900 hours of the Session day on which the members desire to raise their matters in the House shall be balloted in the Parliamentary Notice Office soon after 0900 hours on the Session day. The result of ballot shall immediately thereafter, be displayed in P.N.O. and Table Office for information of Members. A copy of the result of ballot shall also be displayed on the Notice Boards in the Outer Lobby of the Lok Sabha Chamber, Parliament House at 1015 hours on the day on which the members desire to raise their matters in the House. The result of the ballot shall also be displayed in scrolled format under the ‘UPDATES’ column of Lok Sabha website immediately after the ballot process is over.”
