Motion of Thanks on President’s address

Motion of Thanks on President’s address

Context: Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on July 3 after the House adopted the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament. The 264th session of Rajya Sabha, which began on June 27, concluded after Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to the Motion of Thanks, and the House adopted it.

President’s Address in Parliament

• The Constitution provides for an Address by the President to either House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together. The provision for address by the Head of State to Parliament goes back to the year 1921 when the Central Legislature was set up for the
first time under the Government of India Act, 1919.

• Article 86(1) of the Constitution provides that the President may address either House of Parliament or both Houses assembled together, and for that purpose require the attendance of members. However, since the commencement of the Constitution, there has not been any occasion when the President has addressed either House or both Houses assembled together, under the provision of this article.

• Article 87 provides for the special address by the President. Clause (1) of the Article provides that at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year, the President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons.

• Such an address is called ‘special address’ and it is an annual feature. No other business is transacted till the President has addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together.

• This address of the President, which corresponds to the ‘speech from the Throne in Britain’, is discussed in both the Houses of Parliament on a motion called the ‘Motion of Thanks’.

• Clause(2) of Article 87 of the Constitution requires that provision shall be made by the rules regulating the procedure of either House for the allotment of time for discussion of the matters referred to in the President’s Address.

• After the address, general discussion takes place in each House on the address on a Motion of Thanks moved by a member and seconded by another member. Normally the Prime Minister replies to points raised during the discussion.

• Members who are to move and second the Motion are selected by the Prime Minister and the notice of such a Motion is received through the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

• The discussion on the address is set down in the list of business two to three days after the President’s Address.

• The scope of the discussion on the address is very wide and members are at liberty to speak on every matter of national or international importance and other issues.

• Generally, three days are allotted for the discussion on the Motion of Thanks. Notwithstanding that a day has been allotted for discussion on the President’s Address, a motion or motions for leave to introduce Bills or other business of a formal character may be transacted before the House commences or continues the discussion on the Address.

• The discussion may also be postponed in favour of an urgent government Bill or other business. The time allotted by the House for discussion on the Motion of Thanks is distributed amongst various parties and groups in proportion to their strength in the House.

• At the end of the discussion, the Prime Minister replies to the debate.

• Later, the motion is put to vote. This motion must be passed in the House. Otherwise, it amounts to the defeat of the government.