New Delhi, July 31 - Lok Sabha was adjourned 16 minutes before schedule Friday over the issue of a lack of quorum and the poor attendance of MPs.

When Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Minister V. Narayanasamy was replying to the Private Members Bill introduced in the house, some members wanted quorum.

When Francisco Sardinha, who was in the chair, found there were fewer than 54 MPs, 10 percent of the 545 member house, the house was adjourned for the day at 5.44 pm.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi had Thursday expressed concern over the poor attendance of MPs. During her address to the MPs in the Congress parliamentary party, she said it was very difficult to mobilise all the members on crucial occasions in parliament.

This reflects poorly on the performance of the party and does little justice to those who have voted to represent them here, she had said.

Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha secretary general P.D.T. Achary had told IANS that the members' attendance in the present Lok Sabha was much better than in the previous house.