Section 23
Adjournment on a definite matter of urgent public importance
of State Legislative Assembly Standing Orders
(1)
A member may rise in his place at the time appointed by Standing Order No. 13
(Order of Business) and ask leave to move the adjournment of the Assembly for the purpose of discussing a definite matter or urgent public importance.
(2)
A member who wishes so to ask leave to move the adjournment of the Assembly shall within 24 hours before the commencement of the sitting hand to the
Speaker or in his absence the Deputy Speaker a written notification of the matter which he wishes to discuss. Before allowing leave to be asked, the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker as the case may be, shall satisfy himself that the matter to be raised is definite and such as may properly be raised on a motion for the adjournment of the Assembly.
(3)
If the Speaker or Deputy Speaker as the case may be is so satisfied and either the Member obtains the general assent of the Assembly, or its general assent is not obtained, at least twelve (12) Members rise in their places to support the motion, the motion shall stand adjourned until 2.45 p.m. On the same day, and at that hour any proceedings on which the Assembly is engaged shall be postponed until either the motion for the adjournment is disposed of or the moment of interruption is reached, whichever is the earlier. At the moment of interruption the motion for the adjournment is not previously disposed of shall lapse and the proceedings which have been postponed shall be resumed and dealt with in accordance with the next paragraph of this Standing Order.
(4)
Any proceedings which have been postponed under this Standing Order shall be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 3 (Moment of Interruption)
28
for a period of time equal to the duration of the proceedings on the motion made under this Standing Order, and may be resumed and proceeded with at or after the moment of interruption.
(5)
Not more than one motion for the adjustment of the Assembly under the provisions of this Standing Order may be made at any one sitting.