Suspension of MPs

Context (TH | IE): Several Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) of Lok Sabha were suspended in for disrupting the proceedings of the House.

Process of Suspension of MPs in Lok Sabha

Rule 373 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business empowers the Speaker to direct a member to withdraw immediately on account of disorderly conduct.
- Members shall do so forthwith and remain absent from the sitting of the house during the remainder of the day.
Rule 374: The Speaker can name a member who continues to disregard the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business.
- Once named, the House can move a motion to suspend the MP until the end of the session.
- The member so named will be suspended from the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session.
Rule 374A: It was incorporated in the Rule Book in 2001, to bypass the need for a motion for suspension.
- On being named by the Speaker, the member stands automatically suspended for 5 consecutive sittings or the remainder of the session, whichever is less (no motion is passed).
- Member shall forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the House.

Rule 255: It empowers the Chairperson to direct a member to withdraw immediately on account of disorderly conduct.
Rule 256: The House may adopt a motion suspending the Member from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session.

Both are empowered to direct any Member, whose conduct is grossly disorderly, to withdraw immediately from the House.
Unlike the Speaker, the Rajya Sabha Chairman does not have the power to suspend a member automatically (i.e. a motion needs to be passed by the House).