Private Member’s Bill

Private Member’s Bill

Part of: Prelims and GS-II- Governance

In News: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor moved a private member’s Bill in the Lok Sabha seeking to establish permanent Benches of High Courts in State capitals. 

Key Takeaways

• The private member’s Bill was moved in the Lok Sabha after a gap of nearly two years.
• “Establishment of permanent benches of high courts at state capitals Bill” had been pending since 2019.
• As many as 153 private members’ Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday, including one that sought compulsory teaching of the Bhagavad Gita in educational institutions.

Private Member’s Bill

• Any Member of Parliament (MP) who is not a minister is referred to as a private member.
• The purpose of private member’s bill is to draw the government’s attention to what individual MPs see as issues and gaps in the existing legal framework, which require legislative intervention.
• Its drafting is the responsibility of the member concerned. 
• Its introduction in the House requires one month’s notice. 
• The government bills can be introduced and discussed on any day, private member’s bills can be introduced and discussed only on Fridays. 
• Its rejection by the House has no implication on the parliamentary confidence in the government or its resignation. 
• Upon conclusion of the discussion, the member piloting the bill can either withdraw it on the request of the minister concerned, or he may choose to press ahead with its passage. 
• The last time a private member’s bill was passed by both Houses was in 1970. It was the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968.