Whip in Parliament - PIB - 04/01/23

Context:
In a recent Constitution Bench judgment, the Supreme Court held that a country with a multi-party system cannot afford to crack the whip every time a Minister makes an offensive or disparaging statement.
Relevance:
GS2
About:
-A whip is an official of a political party who acts as the party's 'enforcer' inside the legislative assembly or house of parliament.
-In India, every major political party appoints a whip who is responsible for the party's discipline and behaviour on the floor of the House.
-A whip is an important office-bearer of the party in the Parliament.

->Violation of Whip:
-A legislator may face disqualification proceedings if she/he disobeys the whip of the party unless the number of lawmakers defying the whip is 2/3rds of the party's strength in the house. Disqualification is decided by the Speaker of the house.

->Limitations of Whip: There are some cases such as Presidential elections where whips cannot direct a Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) to vote in a particular fashion.

->Types of Whips:
-The One-line whip to inform the members about a vote. It allows a member to abstain in case they decide not to follow the party line.
-The Two-line whip is issued to direct the members to be present in the House at the time of voting. No special instructions are given on the pattern of voting.
-The Three-line whip is issued to members directing them to vote as per the party line. It is the strictest of all the whip.

->Functions of Whip:
-The whip plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and efficient conduct of business on the floor of the House.
-He is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the attendance of his party members in large numbers and securing their support in favour of or against a particular issue.
-He ensures discipline among party members in the House.

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