No Confidence Motion

The No-confidence motion is a parliamentary procedure through which a lack of support can be expressed by the members of Parliament against the government. In India, the no-confidence motion is not explicitly mentioned in the constitution but Article 75 (3) holds the key to the no-confidence motion. It can be initiated by Members of Legislature in Lok Sabha only and can be moved against the Council of Ministers only. To introduce the motion, a member of Parliament must have the backing of atleast 50 fellow MPs. If the Speaker finds the proposal of the motion is in accordance with the rules, he/ she admits the motion. The motion is discussed in the Lok Sabha and then the Speaker puts the motion for vote. If the motion is passed by simple majority, the government must resign. The 1st no-confidence motion was moved in 1963 against the Jawahar Lal Nehru government, however it was unsuccessful. The 1st successful motion was passed in 1979 against the Charan Singh government. Recently, in 2023, the no-confidence motion was moved against the current Narendra Modi led government 2nd time after 2018. The motion was however defeated in the Lok Sabha. The No-confidence motion is important to ensure the accountability of the executive to the Lok Sabha and transparency of the government.

The origin of the no-confidence motion can be traced back to the evolution of parliamentary democracy. India borrowed parliamentary democracy primarily from the United Kingdom (UK), which has one of the oldest and most well-established parliamentary systems in the world. No-confidence motion is a tool to ensure accountability of Government or Executive to the Parliament, specifically the Lok Sabha. One of the earliest examples of parliamentary accountability can be traced back to the principle of ministerial responsibility to the House of Commons in the UK which gradually evolved over time. The concept of the no-confidence motion as a formal parliamentary procedure likely emerged as part of this evolution. As parliamentary democracy spread to other countries around the world, the concept of the no-confidence motion was adopted and adapted to suit the needs of each nation's political system.

A no-confidence motion is a parliamentary procedure through which members of a legislative body express their lack of support for the government. If the motion is passed, it can have significant consequences, potentially leading to the resignation of the government or the dissolution of the legislative body and the calling of new elections.

• The primary purpose of a no-confidence motion is to express the lack of confidence in the government. It can be moved against the Council of Ministers only.
• It can be initiated by Members of Legislature in Lok Sabha only.
• A no-confidence motion is typically initiated by members of the legislative body, often from opposition parties, although it may also be proposed by members of the ruling party dissatisfied with the current leadership.
• By providing a mechanism for the removal of a government that has lost the confidence of the legislature, no-confidence motions help maintain the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government.
• If the motion is passed, it leads to the resignation of the government.

• The no confidence motion is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution of India. However, it is implicit under Article 75 of the Constitution.
• Article 75 : Article 75 of the Indian Constitution outlines the appointment and responsibilities of the Council of Ministers
  • Article 75 (3) states that The Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People. It means if the Council of Ministers loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha, it must resign.
• No-confidence motions are conducted based on parliamentary practices and conventions rather than specific constitutional provisions.
• The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha govern the procedures for moving and conducting no-confidence motions.
  • Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha Rules provides for the procedure for moving a motion of no confidence against the Council of Ministers.

• Proposal :
  • A member of Lok Sabha gives a written notice to the Speaker, expressing the intention to move a motion of no confidence against the Council of Ministers.
  • To introduce the motion, a member of Parliament must have the backing of atleast 50 fellow MPs.
• Approval : The notice is examined by the Speaker to ensure that it meets the requirements laid down in the rules. If the Speaker finds the proposal of the motion is in accordance with the rules, he/ she admits the motion.
• Setting the date : The Speaker decides the date and time for discussion on the motion.
• Debate : The motion is discussed in the Lok Sabha on the date decided by the Speaker. Members are allowed to present their arguments for or against the motion during the debate. The Prime Minister or a representative nominated by Prime Minister from the Council of Ministers may reply to the debate.
• Voting : After the debate ends, the Speaker puts the motion for vote. Members of Lok Sabha cast their votes either in favor of or against the motion. A simple majority of members present and voting is required for the motion to be passed.
• Outcome : If the motion is passed in the Lok Sabha by a simple majority, it is clear that the House has expressed its lack of confidence in the Council of Ministers. Following the passage of a no-confidence motion, the Prime Minister may tender the resignation of the Council of Ministers to the President. Alternatively, the President may dissolve Lok Sabha if they are satisfied that no party or coalition can provide a stable government.

• The 1st no confidence motion
  • It was introduced in 1963 against the Jawahar Lal Nehru government.
  • The motion was brought by the opposition parties, led by the Swatantra Party.
  • It was mainly against the the government's economic policies, particularly its handling of the food crisis and inflation.
  • The 1st no-confidence motion was defeated in the Lok Sabha by a significant margin.
• 1st successful no confidence motion
  • 1st successful no confidence was moved in 1979 against the Charan Singh government.
  • The motion was brought by the opposition parties, particularly the Janata Party, which accused Singh's government of failing to address critical issues such as inflation and unemployment.
  • The no-confidence motion was passed in Lok sabha by a significant margin. As a result, Charan Singh had to resign as Prime Minister.
• The Indira Gandhi government faced the maximum number of No confidence motions.
• Recent No confidence motions :-
  • 2023 : On July 26, 2023, the no-confidence motion was moved against the current Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. The motion was accepted by the Speaker Om Birla. But after the debate of 3 days during 8th to 10th August, 2023, the motion was defeated in the Lok Sabha. This was the 2nd No confidence motion moved against the Modi government.
  • 2018 : In July 2018, the no confidence motion was moved against the Modi government 1st time. This motion was also unsuccessful.

• Parliamentary democracies : The mechanism of no-confidence motion is prevalent in parliamentary democracies worldwide.
  For example :
  • United Kingdom : In 1979, a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister James Callaghan.
  • Japan : In 1993, Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's government fell after a no-confidence motion got passed.
  • Germany : In 1982, a constructive vote of no confidence replaced Chancellor Helmut Schmidt with Helmut Kohl.
  • Pakistan : In 2022, a no-confidence motion was successfully passed against Prime Minister Imran Khan. It was the first time when a sitting Prime Minister was removed from office through a no-confidence motion in Pakistan.
• Presidential democracies : There is no mechanism of no-confidence motion in Presidential democracies such as USA, Brazil and Mexico.

• Accountability : No-confidence motion is an effective tool to hold the government accountable to the legislature and people. It allows elected representatives to express their lack of confidence in the government's performance and decisions.
• Political transparency : The process of debating the no-confidence motion allows for open discussions on the government's policies, actions, and performance, ensuring the transparency in governance.
• Policy reassessment : The debates around the policies of government can lead to introspection within the ruling party and may compel them to address grievances raised by the opposition and the public.
• Checks and balance : The No-confidence motion provides a mechanism for checks and balances on executive power.

The no-confidence motion serves as a fundamental aspect of parliamentary democracy, providing a mechanism for holding the government accountable and ensuring transparency in governance. They serve as an essential tool for parliamentary opposition to voice concerns and initiate changes in government when deemed necessary.