Can a member who has not taken the oath or made the affirmation request leave of absence?

Yes. A member who has not yet taken the oath or made the affirmation under the Constitution can request leave of absence. This allows them to avoid incurring the penalty under Article 104 for sitting or voting without taking the oath. Several precedents support this:

• Dr. Zakir Husain (1952) and Ms. Lata Mangeshkar (1999) were granted leave before taking their oaths.

• Shri R.K. Karanjia (1991) was also granted leave without having made an affirmation, and the Deputy Chairman affirmed the member's right to do so.