Special Session of Parliament
Why in news?
The Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, announced that a “special session” of Parliament would be held in September 2023.
Central Idea
- The Union government of India has announced a special session of Parliament to be held in the newly constructed building.
- This session holds particular significance as it marks the first official use of the new parliamentary facility.
Special Session of Parliament: An Overview:
- A special session of Parliament refers to a unique meeting convened outside of the regular parliamentary
- The term “special session” is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution of India.
- Its convening is carried out as per the provisions of Article 85(1) of the Constitution.
Procedure of calling such Session
Article 85(1) of the Indian Constitution stipulates the procedure for summoning Parliament.
This constitutional provision grants the President the authority to call Parliament into session, including special sessions, as deemed necessary.
Historical Context of Special Sessions:
Special sessions of Parliament have varied in their focus and format over the years:
[A] Special Sessions with Debates:
2015: A special session commemorated Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary.
1997: Parliament convened to mark India’s 50th anniversary of independence.
1962: The agenda included a discussion on the India-China war situation.
[B] Midnight Special Sessions (Without Debates):
1972: A session was held to celebrate 25 years of India’s independence.
1992: A special session marked the 50th anniversary of the Quit India Movement.
2017: A session was convened to mark the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Meeting
- Pre independence- The Central Assembly met for a little more than 60 days a year.
- Post-independence- It increased to 120 days a year in the first 20 years after Independence. Since then, the sitting days of the national legislature have declined.
- Between 2002 and 2021, Lok Sabha averaged 67 working days.
- In 2022, 28 state Assemblies met for 21 days on average.
- Recommendations- Conference of presiding officers has recommended that Parliament should meet for more than 100 days.
- The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution set up in 2000 made a similar recommendation.
- Private member bill- Individual MPs have introduced private member Bills that stipulated increased sitting days for Parliament.
- Private member Bill in 2017 suggested that Parliament should meet for 4 sessions in a year, including a special session of 15 days for debating matters of urgent public importance.
- Lok Sabha committee 1955- It recommended that the Parliament would be in session for 8 months every year.
- International practice-The US Congress and parliaments of Canada, Germany, and the UK are in session throughout the year.
What does the Constitution say about Parliamentary sessions?
- The framers of the Constitution borrowed it from the Government of India Act of 1935.
- It allowed the British Governor General to call a session of the central legislature at his discretion, requiring that the gap between two sessions should not be more than 12 months.
- However, the Constitution specifies that 6 months should not elapse between two parliamentary sessions.
Bills listed for consideration and passing:
- The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023.
- The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
- The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2022.
- The Post Office Bill, 2023.
- The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023
