The Lower House’s functioning was adjourned for the day on the second day of the Winter Session, following protests by Opposition members.

Parliament Sessions in India

Regular Sessions

• Budget Session: Held from February to May, it’s the longest session focused on the annual budget and other important legislative business.
• Monsoon Session: Held from July to August, it’s a shorter session focusing on current issues and legislation.
• Winter Session: Held from November to December, it’s the final session of the year, focusing on reviewing and finalizing pending legislation.

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Special Session

• Joint Session: Article 108 of the Indian Constitution provides for joint sittings of both Houses of Parliament.
  • Convened by the President when there’s a deadlock between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on an ordinary bill.

Key Roles in Parliamentary Adjournments

• President: Article 85 of the Indian Constitution gives Powers to President for 
  • Summoning Parliament: The President can summon Parliament to session.
  • Proroguing Parliament: The President can prorogue (terminate) a session of Parliament.
  • Dissolving Lok Sabha: The President can dissolve the Lok Sabha, leading to general elections.
• Presiding Officers: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha preside over their respective houses and have a role in deciding on adjournments.

About Adjournment Motion

• An Adjournment Motion is a parliamentary procedure designed to interrupt the normal business of the House to discuss a matter of urgent public importance.
  • It is exclusively reserved for the Lok Sabha and cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha.

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Specific Requirements for an Adjournment Motion

• Subject Matter: The motion must pertain to a specific, urgent, factual, and important issue of public concern.
• High Threshold: To introduce an Adjournment Motion, a minimum of 50 members must support it.
• Singularity: The motion should focus on a single issue and avoid encompassing multiple topics.
• Recency: The issue must be of recent occurrence, highlighting its urgency.
• Exclusions: The motion cannot be used to raise questions of privilege, revisit matters already discussed in the same session, or address issues under judicial consideration.
• Alternative Avenues: If the matter can be discussed through other parliamentary procedures, such as a separate motion, an Adjournment Motion is not appropriate.
• Minimum Discussion Time: Once an Adjournment Motion is admitted, the House must allocate at least two and a half hours for its discussion.

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