#THE LEADERS AND CHIEF WHIPS OF RECOGNISED PARTIES AND GROUPS IN PARLIAMENT (FACILITIES) ACT, 1998 
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##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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SECTIONS 
1.  Short title and commencement. 
2.  Definitions. 
3.  Facilities to the Leaders and Chief Whips of recognised groups and parties. 
4.  Power to make rules. 
5.  Amendment of section 3 of Act 10 of 1959. 



#THE LEADERS AND CHIEF WHIPS OF RECOGNISED PARTIES AND GROUPS IN PARLIAMENT (FACILITIES) ACT, 1998 

##ACT NO. 5 OF 1999 

[7th January, 1999.] 

An Act to provide for facilities to Leaders and Chief Whips of recognised parties and groups in 
  Parliament. 

  BE it enacted by Parliament in the Forty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

1. **Short title and commencement.**—(1)  This  Act  may  be  called  the  Leaders  and  Chief  Whips  of 
Recognised 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.] 

[^2][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 fifteen 
members 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 than 
thirty 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  than 
twenty-five members in the Council; 

     (ii) in relation to the House of the People, every party which has a strength of not less than 
fifty-five members in the House.] 

[^3][3. **Facilities to the Leaders and Chief Whips of recognised groups and parties.**—Subject to any 
rules made in this behalf by the Central Government, each leader, deputy leader and each Chief Whip of a 
recognised 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 the 
case may be, who— 

     (i) holds an office of Minister as defined in section 2 of the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers 
Act, 1952 (58 of 1952); or 

     (ii) holds  an  office  of  the  Leader  of  the  Opposition  as  defined  in  section  2of  the  Salary  and 
Allowances 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, or 
representation  in,  a  Parliamentary  Committee  or  other  Committee,  Council,  Board,  Commission  or 
other body set up by the Government; or 

     (iv) is entitled to similar telephone and secretarial facilities provided to him in any other capacity 
by the Government or a local authority or Corporation owned or controlled by the Government or any 
local authority.] 

4. **Power to make rules.**—(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, 
make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act. 



[^1]. Subs. by Act 18 of2000, s.2, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 5-2-1999). 
[^2]. Subs. by s.3,ibid., for section 2 (w.e.f. 7-6-2000). 
[^3]. Subs. by s.4, ibid., for section 3 (w.e.f. 7-6-2000). 



(2)  Every  rule  made  under  sub-section  (1)  shall  be  laid,  as  soon  as  may  be  after  it  is  made,  before 
each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised 
in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately 
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification 
in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only 
in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or 
annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule. 

5. **Amendment of section 3 of Act 10 of 1959.**—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 a 
recognised 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 and 
Groups in Parliament (Facilities)Act, 1998.‟. 



[^1]. Subs. by Act 18 of 2000, s. 5, for “each leader” (w.e.f. 5-2-1999).