POINT OF ORDER

POINT OF ORDER

Subject : Polity

Context : The Congress and other Opposition parties on Thursday forced adjournments of Rajya Sabha proceedings for four times during the post-lunch sitting as they insisted on referring to a standing committee a Bill on raising the FDI in the insurance sector to 74% from the current 49% by raising a point of order.

Concept:

• A Member can raise a point of order when the proceedings of the House do not follow the normal rules of procedure.
• A point of order should relate to the interpretation or enforcement of the Rules of the House or such articles of the Constitution that regulate the business of the House and should raise a question that is within the cognizance of the Speaker.
• It is usually raised by an opposition member in order to control the government. It is an extraordinary device as it suspends the proceedings before the House. No debate is allowed on a point of order.
• Speaker/Chairman is the final decision making authority.