The Monsoon session of Parliament begun recently, following the reshuffling of the Council of Ministers and the Cabinet committees. This article delves into the specifics and mechanics of parliamentary sessions in India, from summoning to adjournment, prorogation, quorum, and joint sessions.
Sessions of Parliament
The Indian constitution, specifically Article 85, lays down the provision for summoning the parliament. The Government possesses the power to convene a parliamentary session. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs takes this decision, which the President then formalises. Subsequently, Members of Parliament (MPs) receive summons to participate in the session.
Unlike some countries, India lacks a fixed parliamentary calendar. Instead, it follows a convention of holding three sessions annually. The longest of these is the Budget Session, which typically starts towards January end and extends until April end or early May. Following this is the Monsoon Session, starting in July and ending in August, spanning approximately three weeks. The third and final session of the year is the Winter Session, which typically occurs from November to December.
Summoning and Adjournment of Parliament
Summoning refers to the act of calling all Parliament members to convene. The President performs this duty periodically. As per constitutional regulations, the gap between two sessions cannot exceed six months. This ensures that Parliament will meet at least twice a year.
Adjournment signifies the termination of a House sitting, usually resuming at a later time or date. This postponement may range from hours and days to weeks. If a meeting concludes without setting a fixed time or date for the next session, it’s called Adjournment sine die. The Speaker or Chairman of the House, acting as the presiding officer, holds the power to adjourn meetings.
Prorogation and Quorum of Parliament
Prorogation signifies the end of a session, but not the dissolution of the house. The President of India undertakes this. For Lok Sabha, prorogation does not equate to dissolution since the Rajya Sabha remains intact.
Quorum, meanwhile, refers to the minimum number of members required to conduct a house meeting. The Constitution mandates a quorum of one-tenth strength for both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Hence, a sitting of the Lok Sabha requires the presence of at least 55 members, while the Rajya Sabha requires at least 25.
Joint Session of Parliament
Article 108 of the Indian Constitution discusses the potential for a joint session of Parliament’s two Houses, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Such a measure aims to resolve any deadlock between the two Houses. The President calls these sessions. The Speaker presides over such meetings in absence of which the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha takes over. In the absence of both, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha assumes the role. If all three are absent, another member of Parliament may preside. This decision depends on the consensus of both Houses.
Last Modified: February 15, 2024