Preface

The first edition of the "Manual for Handling Parliamentary Work in Ministries" was brought out by the then Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms in July 1973. Subsequently, in 1976, on its request of that department the work relating to the manual was transferred to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Keeping in view the various changes that had taken place in the Parliamentary Procedure and Practices, the manual was revised in consultation with the concerned Ministries and the second edition of the manual was brought out by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in 1989.

2. Over the period, there have been significant changes in the parliamentary procedures, legislative processes, role of the departmentally-related Standing Committees of Parliament, constituted for the first time in 1993, in examining the Demands for Grants, Bills, annual reports of the ministries/departments and long-term policy documents presented to the Houses. Corresponding to Rule 377 in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, Rules 180 A-E were inserted in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha to provide for raising of matters of urgent public importance by the members (Special Mentions) in the Rajya Sabha. Urgent matters of general public importance have also since been allowed to be raised in Zero Hour in Lok/Rajya Sabha, with the permission of the Presiding Officers.

3. In view of the above, the manual has been again reviewed and revised in consultation with the concerned Ministries. A new Chapter XIV has been added in regard to nomination of members of Parliament on committees, councils, boards and commissions etc., set up by the Government. A bibliography of additional reading material has also been provided at the end. It is also proposed to make it available in CD format. A copy of it will also be placed on the website (http://mpa.nic.in) of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

4. It is hoped that this manual will be of immense use to various departments of the Government of India.

5. Although every care has been taken to make the manual as complete, accurate and useful as possible, there is, nevertheless, always scope for further improvement. Suggestions for improvement/corrections of errors which might have crept into the manual, would be welcome.

V.K. AGNIHOTRI
Secretary, Ministry of Parlimentary Affairs

New Delhi
June 2004

The earlier editions of the Manual of Office Procedure contained only a chapter devoted to procedures relating to questions, legislation, resolutions and other motions in Parliament. When the above manual was reviewed during 1971-72 it was felt that this important subject needed treatment in depth in a separate manual, which would also bring at one place the various instructions relating to parliamentary work, which are at present dispersed in a number of publications and circulars. The relevant chapter and the connected appendix were accordingly omitted from the latest edition of the Manual of Office Procedure and work taken in hand to compile a separate manual for handling parliamentary work in Ministries.

2. The draft of this manual was initially prepared in this department under the guidance of a working group consisting of officers from the Department of Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Law and Justice and some other departments. The draft was circulated to all ministries and the manual was finalised by the working group after taking into account their comments.

3. Every care has been taken to make the manual as complete, accurate and useful as possible. However, suggestions for improvement and correction of inadvertent errors which might have crept into it, would be gratefully received and carefully considered.

M. GOPAL MENON
Additional Secretary and Director O & M
Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms
(Administrative Reforms)

New Delhi

4th July 1973