The Winter Session of the Parliament recently adjourned sine die, marking the indefinite termination of a Parliament sitting. This session was significant due to the passing of vital legislations. This article explores various aspects of the Parliament’s functioning and key legislations passed during the Winter Session.
Termination of Parliament Sitting
The termination of a Parliament sitting in both houses, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, can occur via various means – Adjournment, Adjournment sine die, Prorogation and Dissolution. However, Dissolution is not applicable to the Rajya Sabha.
Understanding Adjournment and Adjournment Sine Die
An adjournment signifies temporary suspension of work in a sitting for a specified time period, which could range from hours to weeks. Here, the time of reassembly is specified, as an adjournment only concludes a sitting, not a session. The presiding officer of the House holds the power of adjournment.
On the other hand, Adjournment sine die translates to ending a Parliament sitting for an indefinite period. Unlike adjournment, the House adjourns without declaring a date for reassembly. The power of adjournment sine die lies with the presiding officer of the House, who also has the authority to call a sitting of the House at any time after it has been adjourned sine die.
Prorogation and Its Implications
Prorogation signifies the cessation of a House session by an order from the President under Article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution. This implies termination of both the sitting and session of the House. Typically, prorogation occurs within days after the House adjourns sine die. The President issues a notification for session prorogation. All pending notices lapse, barring those for introducing bills.
Understanding Dissolution
Dissolution signifies the terminating of a House’s existence, leading to the creation of a new House following General Elections. It’s worth noting that only the Lok Sabha is subject to dissolution, as the Rajya Sabha, being a permanent House, is not.
Significant Legislations Passed
The Parliament passed notable legislations during the Winter Session such as The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, The Dam Safety Bill, 2021, The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulations) Bill, 2021, The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2021, The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021, The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021, The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021, The Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021. These bills spanned topics from agriculture to pharmaceutical education and research, reflecting the wide range of issues addressed during the session.