Special Session of Parliament
A Special Session of Parliament, as announced by Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, is set to take place from September 18 to 22.
This topic of “Special Session of Parliament” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Portion.
Understanding the Special Session of Parliament
Definition
- Special Sessions are convened for specific occasions, often to commemorate parliamentary or national milestones.
Purpose: Adding Safeguards to Emergency Power Proclamation
- The upcoming Special Session aims to introduce safeguards to the power of proclaiming an Emergency.
Significance of Constitution Mention
- Article 352 of the Indian Constitution mentions the Proclamation of Emergency.
- The Constitution was amended by the Forty-fourth Amendment in 1978, allowing for a special sitting of the House under certain conditions.
Mechanism of the Special Session
Conditions for the Special Session
- Presiding officers of both Houses must chair the session.
- Limited proceedings are conducted during these sessions, excluding the usual question hour for Members of Parliament (MPs).
Who Decides the Session
- The government determines the need for a special session.
- The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, comprising 10 ministers and special invitees, takes the decision.
- The President is informed and issues summonses to MPs for the session.
Historical Context and Facts
Parliamentary Calendar
- India lacks a fixed sittings calendar for Parliament.
- A 1955 proposal by a Lok Sabha committee suggested a timetable, but it remains unimplemented.
Session Duration Recommendations
- Various bodies have recommended over 100 days for sessions.
- Private member Bills have been proposed for increased sittings and special sessions for urgent matters.
International Comparison
- Countries like the US, Canada, Germany, and the UK have year-round sessions with fixed calendars.
Historical Data
- Pre-independence, the Central Assembly had over 60 days of sessions per year.
- The first 20 years after independence saw around 120 days per year.
- Recent years have seen a decline, with Lok Sabha averaging 67 days in sessions.
Constitution on Session Gap
- The Constitution stipulates a maximum gap of six months between two sessions.
- This limitation was reduced from 12 months under the Government of India Act of 1935.
Insights from Constituent Assembly Debates
- Some members wanted continuous sessions with breaks.
- Comparisons were drawn with British and American legislatures.
- Dr B R Ambedkar shared differing views on session frequency and length.
