The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998

(1) This Act may be called the Leaders and Chief Whips ofRecognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998. 1[ (2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 5th day of February, 1999.]

1[2. Definitions.-- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a)"recognised group" means,-- (i) in relation to the Council of States, every party which has a strength of not less than fifteenmembers and not more than twenty-four members in the Council; (ii) in relation to the House of the People, every party which has a strength of not less thanthirty members and not more than fifty-four members in the House; (b) "recognised party" means,-- (i) in relation to the Council of States, every party which has a strength of not less thantwenty-five members in the Council; (ii) in relation to the House of the People, every party which has a strength of not less thanfifty-five members in the House.]

1[3. Facilities to the Leaders and Chief Whips of recognised groups and parties.--Subject to anyrules made in this behalf by the Central Government, each leader, deputy leader and each Chief Whip of arecognised group and a recognised party shall be entitled to telephone and secretarial facilities: Provided that such facilities shall not be provided to such leader, deputy leader or Chief Whip, as thecase may be, who-- (i)holds an office of Minister as defined in section 2 of the Salaries and Allowances of MinistersAct, 1952 (58 of 1952); or (ii)holds an office of the Leader of the Opposition as defined in section 2of the Salary andAllowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 (33 of 1977); or (iii)is entitled to similar telephone and secretarial facilities by virtue of holding any office of, orrepresentation in, a Parliamentary Committee or other Committee, Council, Board, Commission orother body set up by the Government; or (iv)is entitled to similar telephone and secretarial facilities provided to him in any other capacityby the Government or a local authority or Corporation owned or controlled by the Government or anylocal authority.]

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act. (2) Every rule made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, beforeeach House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprisedin one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediatelyfollowing the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modificationin the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect onlyin such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification orannulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule

In the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification)Act, 1959, in section 3,-- (i) after clause (ab),the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-- "(ac) the office of 1 [each leader and each deputy leader] of a recognised party and arecognised group in either House of Parliament;"; (ii) after Explanation 2, the following Explanation shall be inserted, namely:-- Explanation 3.--.In clause (ac),the expressions "recognised party" and "recognised group"shall have the meanings assigned to them in Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties andGroups in Parliament (Facilities)Act, 1998.'.