Adjournment Motion - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition adjournment-motion

Definition :

Adjournment Motion, means a motion for discussing 'a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration'. Wilding and Laundry, the Office of the Speaker in Parliament of Commonwealth, p. 247. 'Adjourn motion' is a motion which can be moved by any member of the House and is in the nature of emergency motion of censure upon the government. Wilding and Laundry -- The Office of the Speaker in Parliament of Commonwealth, p. 9.

The object is to draw the attention of the Govern-ment to a matter of urgent public importance so as to criticize the decision of Government in an urgent matter in regard to which a motion or resolution with proper notice will be too late. Kaul and Shakdher -- Practice and Procedure of Parliament, 5th Edn., 2001, p. 496.

If the Speaker gives his consent after satisfying himself that the matter to be raised is definite urgent and of public importance and holds that the matter proposed to be discussed is in order, he shall call the member concerned who shall rise in his place and ask for leave to move the adjournment of the House. If objection to leave being granted is taken, the Speaker shall request those members who are in favour of leave being granted to rise in their places, and if not less than fifty members rise accordingly, the Speaker shall intimate that leave is granted. If not, he shall inform the House that the member has not the leave of the House. Rules and Procedure and Conduct of (Rajya Sabha) Business in Council of States 5th Edn. 2000, p. 56.

Means the adjournment proposed is not of the proceedings of the day but of the proceedings in regard to the items listed on the agenda in order to take up some matter of urgent public importance. In case adjournment motion is adopted the House automatically stands adjourned in pursuance of the adoption of the motion. If the motion is negatived discussion on the business which had been interrupted by the adjournment is resumed or the next item on the agenda taken up for a short while and then the House is adjourned by the Speaker for the day. Kaul & Shakdher ' Practice and Procedure of Parliament, 5th Edn., 2001, p. 521.