Special mention
Topic: Parliamentary Procedure, Committees and Privileges · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A special mention is a Rajya Sabha device for raising a public matter that cannot be brought up through a question, a motion or a discussion. A member reads out a short statement on the issue so that it goes on record and comes to the government's notice. In the Lok Sabha, the same need is met by raising the matter under Rule 377. It gives members a regular route for local or urgent concerns.
Example
A Rajya Sabha member might use a special mention to raise a state's need for a new railway line. The matter is placed on record and the ministry concerned is expected to take note of it.
Don't confuse with
- Zero Hour: here members raise urgent matters without notice right after Question Hour, and this practice is not in the rules. A special mention is a recognised procedure of the Rajya Sabha.
- Calling attention motion: under this, the minister must make an official statement and brief questions follow. A special mention does not require a ministerial statement in the House.
Related concepts
- Question Hour
- Starred question
- Unstarred question
- Short notice question
- Zero Hour
- Half-an-hour discussion
- Short duration discussion
- Calling attention motion