How should Zero Hour notices be submitted?

Zero Hour notices must be submitted between 12 Noon and 5:00 PM on the day before the member wishes to raise the matter. The notice must include a clear synopsis justifying the urgency and importance of the issue, and if allegations are made against any individual, a copy must be sent to them as well.

Understanding the process: Zero Hour emerged as an informal parliamentary innovation that eventually gained formal recognition and structured procedures. The strict timeline and format requirements ensure administrative efficiency while maintaining the spontaneity that makes Zero Hour valuable. The ballot system democratizes access, preventing domination by senior or more vocal members. The requirement to justify urgency ensures the time is used for genuinely pressing matters, while the rule about sending copies of allegations to affected individuals reflects natural justice principles. This carefully designed process balances prompt response to emerging issues with orderly parliamentary functioning.

Key citations:

• Rule 5.1(i) establishes the specific submission window: "between 12 Noon till 05.00 P.M. on the previous day" - this timing ensures administrative processing can occur before the next day's session.
• Rule 5.1(i) also requires "a synopsis of the matter" with justification of "its urgency and importance" - forcing members to articulate why their matter deserves immediate attention.
• Rule 5.1(iii) mandates that for allegations, "the Member should send a copy of his/her notice to the Member/Minister against whom the allegation is being made" - implementing procedural fairness.
• Rule 5.1(iv) specifies that "A ballot of notices received in Notice Office upto 05.00 p.m. will be held at 05.30 p.m." - creating a transparent selection mechanism.
• Rule 5.1(v) provides that "Fifteen notices selected through the ballot will be allowed to be raised in a day" plus "4 to 5 notices" at Chairman's discretion - establishing both regular and exceptional pathways for matters to be raised.
• Rule 5.1(xii) clarifies that "Notices not selected through ballot or permitted by the Chairman for a given day shall be treated as lapsed on the same day" - requiring fresh notices daily and preventing accumulation of pending matters.