Indian parliament is an apex legislative body or highest law-making authority that ensures effective comprehensive governance and administration in the country.
The Parliament of India consists of Lok Sabha (House of People), Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the President of India. Any new law or amendment that seeks to be implemented in the country required to be passed by the Parliament of India.
It can not be enforced without receiving permission from the Parliament. These decisions require various types of majorities based on their significance and nature to be passed.
What is Majority
Majority is a numerical strength required in each house for passing bills, resolutions or other legislative procedures.
What Are the Types of Majority?
The constitution of India doesn’t explicitly mention the classification of majorities. However, there are mainly four types of majorities including simple, absolute, effective and special majority used in parliamentary procedures. Let’s know them in detail,
Simple Majority
It’s a majority of members present and voting, meaning more than 50% of members present and voting. It is also known as Ordinary or Functional or Working majority.
This type of majority is required in the following cases :
- Passing of ordinary bills, money bills, and financial bills
- Passing of Adjournment Motion, No Confidence Motion, Censure Motion and Motion of Thanks.
- Removal of Vice-President in Lok Sabha (Article 67).
- Approval of imposition of President’s Rule (Article 356).
- Approval of proclamation of financial emergency (Article 360).
- Election of Speaker & Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha (Article 93).
- Election of Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha (Article 89).
- Passing of a Resolution by Lok Sabha for disapproving continuance of the National Emergency (Article 352).
Effective Majority
It means a majority of total membership of the House minus vacant seats. This type of majority is referred in the constitution as “a majority of all the then members of the house.”
This type of majority is required in the following cases:
- Removal of Vice President in Rajya Sabha (Article 67).
- Removal of Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha (Article 90).
- Removal of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha (Article 94).
Absolute Majority
It means a majority of the total membership of the house, regardless of attendance. Example: The absolute majority in case of Rajya Sabha is 123 and in case of Lok Sabha is 272.
Special Majority
The special majority is classified in three different categories as per the requirement and cases. Let’s understand them,
Special Majority – I : A majority total membership of each house and a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting is required in the following cases:
- Amendment of the Constitution (Article 368).
- Removal of the Supreme Court Judges (Article 124).
- Removal of the High Court Judges (Article 217).
- Removal of CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) (Article 148).
- Removal of Chief Election Commissioner (Article 324).
- Removal of State Election Commissioner (Article 243K).
- Parliamentary approval of proclamation of national emergency (Article 352).
Special Majority – II : A two-thirds majority of the total membership of each house is required for the impeachment of the President (Article 61).
Special Majority – III : A two-thirds majority of the members present and voting (in the Rajya Sabha) is required in the following cases:
- Recommendation for the creation of New All India Services (Article 312).
- Parliamentary Legislation on matters in the State List (Article 249).
Conclusion
In the Indian parliamentary system, the concept of majority plays a crucial role in decision-making. It also ensures scrutiny while balancing democratic rule with constitutional safeguards.