Private Member's Bill
Context:
NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule introduced a Private Member's Bill in Lok Sabha titled the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025.
The Bill proposes that employees should have the right to refuse work-related calls and emails outside of work hours without facing disciplinary action
Basics of a Private Member's Bill (PMB’s):
A Private Member is any Member of Parliament who is not a Minister
A legislative proposal initiated by such a member is called a Private Member's Bill.
PMBs allow MPs to raise issues not covered by Government Bills and highlight gaps in existing laws.
Key Procedural Rules:
A member must give one month's notice to move a motion for leave to introduce a Bill.
These bills are generally taken up on alternate Fridays for two and a half hours.
One-month notice is mandatory for introducing a PMB (can be shortened by Chairman).
Currently, a member can introduce a maximum of three bills in a Session
Admissibility is decided by the Chairman (Rajya Sabha) or Speaker (Lok Sabha).
Bills involving subjects in the State List or those requiring President's recommendation may be disallowed or blocked
Significance & Enactment:
Passing these bills is notoriously difficult; only 14 Private Members Bills have been enacted since 1952.
The last such bill to receive parliamentary approval was the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill in 1970
Despite low enactment rates, they serve to highlight legal gaps and public issues, often prompting the Government to bring comprehensive legislation later.
Lapsing and Removal of PMB’s:
A PMB is removed from pending list if:
Member-in-charge retires
Member becomes Minister
President withholds recommendation