Without fear or favour: The Speaker should take up the no-confidence motion

Ms Mahajan said she could not proceed unless the House was in order

For the fourth day in succession, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the Lok Sabha on Thursday without taking up the motion of no-confidence moved by the Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress that was supported by major Opposition parties. This is surprising as the rule is that a no-confidence motion must be taken up immediately; all other House business must make way for it. This is fundamental to parliamentary functioning and to executive accountability. That this has not happened so far despite being moved by the required number of Members of Parliament (MPs) has led to concerns in the Opposition