Cut Motions

What happens when the government has placed a bill that is not rightly structured or overly demanding financially? Of course, somebody has to oppose it to use our money paid through taxes correctly. Now, there has to be a righteous procedure to resist the demand. The Constitution thus empowers the other members of the Parliament with the power of the cut motions, so a proper approach to challenge the bill can be made. The aspects of this motion here are:

• The types of cut motions.
• Admissibility of cut motions.
• The power of the Speaker to decide admissibility.

So, let us know more about cut motions and know about the subject.

What Are Cut Motions?

The cut motions, in simple terms, are the veto power given to the members of Lok Sabha to empower them if they want to oppose the financial bill proposed by the government. This is made to reduce the monetary amount demanded by the government for a certain policy or any other segment of government operations.  

This provision can be an effective tool if the government is found at fault or if the situation demands testing the strength of the government. The cut motions are similar to no-confidence motions. If the House approves a cut motion and the government fails to draw enough votes in the lower house, it is obliged to resign or reform according to the norms. The decision to approve or disapprove a cut motion remains with the Speaker of the House.

The Types of Cut Motions

The cut motions fall under three categories, how the demand can be reduced and they are:

1. Disapproval of Policy Cut

Under this category of motion, the demand for the financial bill can be reduced to Rs.1. This demeaning represents the disapproval of the policy for which the demand was made. The member who has given such notice of motion will be subjected to providing the policy’s precise terms where he finds it objectionable. The discussion has to be only around the points and will be open to all in the Parliament to discuss an alternative to the policy. 

2. Economic Cut

As per this cut, the demand can be reduced by an amount suggested by a member of the Parliament, affecting the economy. This certain amount can be a monetary figure or a certain item that can be removed from the proposed policy. The notice against the motion must be provided to state the particular matter that requires attention and on which the discussion shall be made. The speeches are also suggested to be confined to the matter and very precisely presented without any other issue or subject brought into it. 

3. Token Cut

A token cut motion is like granting an amount to be reduced from the bill that was not necessary economically but necessary to ventilate the grievance specified in the motion against the government policy. The discussion, therefore, is expected to be restricted to that specific grievance and nothing else.

Admissibility of Cut Motions

Certain conditions need to be satisfied for the motion to reduce the demand amount to be admissible. So, the conditions which determine the admissibility of cut motions are:

1. It must be related to one demand only.
2. It must be distinctly explained without any other arguments.
3. It must refer to one specific matter stated in a crisp format.
4. It must not deal with the character or conduct of any member or other person.
5. It must not make comments questioning the law or suggest the existing law.
6. It must not contain a subject that does not concern the government.
7. It must not challenge or relate to India’s expenditure on the consolidated fund.
8. It must not be related to a question of privilege.
9. It must not bring up a past matter that has already been settled.
10. It must not show anticipation of a case previously brought into consideration.
11. It must not be related to a case already under the trial of a court of law. 
12. It must not raise a discussion on a pending case before the statutory tribunal or statutory authority.
13. It must not be related to a petty issue.

The Authority of the Speaker to Decide Admissibility

It is on the Speaker to decide the admissibility of the cut motion moved in the Parliament based on the admissibility laws stated above. If they find the motion inappropriate to be taken forward, they may dismiss it. The Speaker might do it if they find the motion to be abusive of the right to move cut motions or is meant to obstruct the proceedings of the Parliament, or does not obey the rules.

Conclusion

This article speaks about what is a cut motion, the three main categories of cut motions, admissibility laws, and the role of the Speaker in all of these. It is to be noted that if the notice demanding a reduction in the bill is not produced a day before assessing the demand on the bill, it may be argued by a member and may not receive approval. The Speaker is only entitled to move the motion in such a case.