The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Act details
| Short title | The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for facilities to Leaders and Chief Whips of recognised parties and groups in Parliament. |
| Act number | 5 of 1999 |
| Act year | 1999 |
| Enactment date | 7 Jan 1999 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 5 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998
Short Title The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998
Act Number / Year 5 of 1999
Act ID (India Code) 199905
Presidential Assent/ Enactment Date January 7, 1999
Enforcement Date February 5, 1999
Nodal Ministry Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Precedent & Statutory Rationale
• Informal Administrative Arrangements and Operational Disparities:
o Prior to 1999, while prominent ministers and certain designated opposition leaders received structured logistical support, the leaders and chief whips of various recognized political parties and groups in Parliament largely depended on ad-hoc administrative arrangements, executive circulars, or internal parliamentary accommodations.
o This lack of a unified statutory entitlement created operational inefficiencies in managing legislative business, coordinating floor strategies, and ensuring smooth communication between political groups and parliamentary secretariats.
• Legislative Intervention and Regularization:
o Enacted to provide a firm statutory right to official infrastructural support, ensuring that floor leaders and chief whips of recognized parties and groups are adequately equipped to discharge their core legislative duties.
o The core objective was to standardize entitlements—such as provision of office accommodation, secretarial assistance, travel concessions, and telephone/communication facilities—thereby strengthening institutional efficiency and democratic functioning within both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
• Formulation: Developed by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs through inter-party consensus and parliamentary committee recommendations to institutionalize support systems for key legislative functionaries.
• Parliamentary Passage: Passed by both houses of Parliament, receiving formal presidential assent on January 7, 1999.
• Enforcement: Enforced on February 5, 1999.
• Source: India Code and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Official Records.