Section 54 in Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha
54. Short notice questions.
(1)A question relating to a matter of public importance may be asked with notice shorter than ten clear days and the Speaker, if, is of the opinion that the question is of an urgent character, may direct that an enquiry may be made from the Minister concerned if such Minister is in a position to reply and, if so, on what date.(2)If the Minister concerned agrees to reply, such question shall be answered on a day to be indicated by the Minister and shall be called immediately after the questions which have appeared on the list of questions for oral answer have been disposed of.(3)If the Minister is unable to answer the question at short notice and the Speaker is of the opinion that the question is of sufficient public importance to be orally answered in the House, the Speaker may direct that the question be placed as the first question on the list of questions for the day on which it would be due for answer under rule 33:Provided that not more than one such question shall be accorded first priority on the list of questions for any one day.(3A)Where a notice of a short notice question is signed by more than one member, it shall be deemed to have been given by the first signatory only.(4)Where two or more members give short notice questions on the same subject and one of the questions is accepted for answer at short notice, names of not more than four members, other than the one whose notice has been admitted, as determined by ballot, shall be shown against the admitted question:Provided that the Speaker may direct that all the notices be consolidated into a single notice, if in the opinion of the Speaker, it is desirable to have a single self-contained question covering all the important points raised by members, and the Minister shall then give reply to the consolidated question:Provided further that in the case of consolidated question, names of not more than four members, other than the one whose notice has been admitted, as determined by ballot, shall be shown against the question.(5)Where a member desires an oral answer to a question at a shorter notice, such Member shall briefly state the reasons for asking the question with short notice. Where no reasons have been assigned in the notice of the question, the question shall be returned to the member.(6)The member who has given notice of the question shall be in one's own seat to ask the question by reference to its number on the list of questions when called by the Speaker and the Minister concerned shall give a reply immediately:Provided that when a question is shown in the names of more than one member the Speaker shall call the name of the first member or, in the absence of that member, any other name.(7)In other respects, the procedure for short notice questions shall be the same as for ordinary questions for oral answer with such modifications as the Speaker may consider necessary or convenient.
