Starred and Unstarred Questions
Context:
Recently opposition parties staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha after a BJP MP withdrew, without explanation, a question he had posed to Union Home Minister on enhancing forensic capabilities in the country in view of the new criminal laws.
Question Hour:
The Question Hour is an inherent parliamentary right of members to hold the government accountable.
It is typically the first hour of a Lok Sabha sitting.
The Question Hour starts at 11.00 A.M. and concludes at 12.00 Noon on five days in a week
The procedure to deal with questions is governed by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
Types of Questions:
The questions are of four types:
Starred Questions:
A question to which a member desires an oral answer from the Minister in the House and is distinguished by an asterisk (*).
Since the answer is oral, it can be followed by supplementary questions by members to elucidate further details.
A maximum of 20 Starred Questions can be listed for oral answer on a single day.
Unstarred Questions:
A question which is not called for oral answer in the House.
A written answer is deemed to have been laid on the Table of the House.
No supplementary questions can be asked as the answer is written.
Generally, not more than 230 Unstarred Questions are listed for a day.
Short Notice Questions:
A question relating to a matter of urgent public importance.
It can be asked with a notice shorter than the usual 10-15 days (specifically less than 10 days) prescribed for ordinary questions.
It is answered orally and can be followed by supplementary questions.
Questions to Private Members:
A question may also be addressed to a Private Member, provided that the subject matter of the question relates to some Bill, Resolution or other matter connected with the business of the House for which that member is responsible.
In Lok Sabha,
List of Starred Questions is printed on green paper,
List of Unstarred Questions on white paper,
List of Short Notice Questions on pink paper and
List of Questions to Private Members on yellow paper.
Half-an-Hour Discussion:
When members feel that the answer given to a question is not complete or does not give the desired information or needs elucidation on a matter of fact, they may be allowed by the Speaker to raise a discussion in the House for half an hour.
The procedure is, therefore, termed as 'Half-an-Hour Discussion'.
Half-an-Hour Discussions are generally held on the three sittings in a week; namely, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
No Half-an-Hour Discussion is fixed on the first day of the session and are also not usually held during the Budget Session till the disposal of financial business.