Parliament Disruptions Prevent MPs from Utilizing Question Hour and Zero Hour

Parliament Disruptions: For young and old MPs, Question Hour and Zero Hour are the times to raise questions that concern the people of their constituency or state.

While Question Hour from 11 am to noon in both houses gives them a chance to get a minister to respond to their questions, Zero Hour immediately after gives them a chance to raise “Issues of Urgent Public Importance”. Many MPs even have to wait a year or more to get a chance in the Zero Hour.

But when Parliament doesn’t function normally, as it has not in this monsoon session so far, Question Hour and Zero Hour are the first to get disrupted. Out of 210 Zero Hour submissions made by MPs in the Rajya Sabha this session, only 5 could be taken up. Out of 210 starred questions listed in Question Hour, just 14 could be taken up.

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Many MPs, from both the ruling NDA and the opposition, that CNN-News18 spoke to over the last few days, lamented that they had lost out on a chance to raise important questions in Parliament, which remained suspended except for the 32-hour discussion on Operation Sindoor.

Sample this: Rajya Sabha had 210 starred questions, 210 Zero Hour submissions and 210 special mentions listed on various issues so far.

But due to continuous disruptions, Rajya Sabha could take up only 14 starred questions, 5 Zero Hour submissions and 17 special mentions. “Because of the disruptions, we have lost 62 hours and 25 minutes of this session," the Chair noted on Monday.

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On August 8, as soon as Question Hour began in Lok Sabha, the opposition disrupted it on the special intensive revision (SIR) issue. Speaker Om Birla pleaded to the house: “Honourable members, I am requesting you again that Question Hour is an important time. Please let the house sit. Your sloganeering is not in accordance with parliamentary traditions. The people of the country are watching this. I am requesting you again, this Question Hour is important."

On August 11, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh also appealed to the members to let the Zero Hour function. “I would request you to let Zero Hour run…allow honourable members to avail Zero Hour and Question Hour. You know that both of these are very important instruments for honourable members. These are very important instruments. You don’t want these to be discussed?" he said, before adjourning the house.

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