Introduction

According to dictionaries, “zero hour” refers to an important moment or moment of decision in parliamentarian language. This is the time between “question hour” and regular business start. Another reason behind its naming can be signified as zero hour starts at 12 noon. The members of parliaments raise issues regarding public interests in the parliament during the “zero hour” period. Zero hour is important in the parliamentary functioning of the country. 

Discussion

Zero hour

“Zero hour” begins right after the end of the “question hour” in the parliament. Zero hours precisely start at 12 noon that’s why it is named “zero hour”. During this period in the parliamentary operations, the members of parliament can put up issues that are of public interest. Matters of substantial interest can be put up in the parliament in zero hour without any advance notice. The duration of “zero hour” has evolved over the years. Since no mention of zero hour has been described in the constitution or parliamentary rule book it is impossible to speculate on the issues put up in the “zero hour”. It is important to note that the concept of “zero hour” is not stated anywhere in the constitution or rules of the parliament but it still exists.  

Zero hour in parliament

“Zero hour” is the concept that is neither stated in the constitution nor stated in the parliamentary rule book. It is a parliamentary innovation of India. The period of “zero hour” starts right after the “question hour” and continues till the day’s proceedings for the day ends. As “zero hour” is not derived from the constitution or rules book of the parliament, it has become an informal tool for the members of parliament to put up various issues that are related to public interests. Members of parliament can put up issues in the parliament without any prior notice 10 days in advance. For putting up the issues in the parliament regarding urgent matters or public interests, members of parliaments must submit a notice to the chairman or speaker of the house. The notice must mention the subject they want to bring to the parliament. However, the Speaker of the lower house and Chairman of the Upper house hold the position to accept or deny the request associated with the issues put up in the proceedings of the parliament during the zero hour. In the state of urgent matters and public affairs interests where a notice period is not mandatory to put up issues, zero-hour proceedings begin. In between question hour and the business agenda of the parliament, the motion of zero hour starts. The appearance of zero hour started from the early 60s when many issues regarding urgent matters and public importance were put up by the members of parliament right after the “question hour”. Sometimes issues were raised with the permission of the speaker or chairman and sometimes without the permission of the chair. 

A habit has begun to develop that as soon as the chairman announces the end of questioning members would stand on their feet to put up issues that they deem very important to bring to the attention of the house. The importance of raising has started developing, which cannot be delayed or waited for raising following the normal procedures. Zero hour began to attract the attention of media houses, encouraging more and more members of parliaments to use these tactics more quickly and conveniently. Zero hour is an innovation created in the Indian parliamentary procedures and came into picture in 1962. In the 1960 members of parliament used to put up so many urgent issues of national and international significance right after the “question hour”. In such cases, members of parliament put up the issue of policy announcements made by ministers outside the parliament during the proceedings of the parliament. The act sparked an idea among other MPs who were calling for other provisions to discuss important issues in the parliament. Rabi Ray, the ninth Speaker of the Lok Sabha made some changes in the working of the parliament to generate more opportunities for MPs to raise issues of substantial matters. He suggested a method to control the proceedings during the zero hour, put up issues in a more orderly manner, and optimize the timing of the parliament. 

Duration of zero hour in Lok Sabha

The duration of zero hour in the lower house of parliament or Lok Sabha is 30 minutes. Three minutes is allocated for each of the members of parliaments to put up issues during zero hour. The proceedings of zero hour start right after the end of question hour.

Conclusion

Since the 1960s “zero hour” has become an essential parliamentary tool for holding the government accountable for urgent public matters. Although parliamentary sessions and zero hour have been repeatedly disrupted, it has repeatedly held the government accountable for urgent issues. “Zero hour” has been proved as an important parliamentary tool which is completely an Indian innovation created for bringing up urgent matters subjected to public importance without any advance notice.