Sessions and Parliamentary Business in India: Structure, Procedures and Governance

The Parliament of India, as the supreme legislative body, plays a crucial role in shaping the nation’s democratic framework. It operates through three main sessions each year, ensuring continuous legislative oversight and governance. Key procedures such as adjournment, prorogation, and dissolution define its functioning. The President’s Address, along with provisions for language use and the roles of ministers and the Attorney General, further structure the parliamentary process.

Parliamentary Business in India

Parliamentary Sessions in India

• Summoning of Parliament: Each House of the Parliament is summoned by the President. 
• Definition of a Session: A session means the period between the summoning and the prorogation of the House. 
• Maximum Gap Between Sessions: The Constitution provides that the maximum gap between two sessions of the Parliament can not be more than six months. 
• Recess Period: The period spanning between the prorogation and the reassembly of the House is called ‘recess’.
• Annual Sessions of Parliament: Parliament holds three Sessions in a year:

• Quorum for House Sitting: The quorum to constitute a sitting of the House is one-tenth of the total members of the House.

Adjournment, Prorogation, and Dissolution

The Structure of Parliamentary Business

• Classification of Parliamentary Business: Parliamentary Business is broadly divided into Government Business and Private Members’ Business. 
• Categories of Government Business: The Government Business is further divided into two categories: 
  • Government-Initiated Business: items of business initiated by the Government, including Legislative and Financial Business; and 
  • Private Members’ Business: items of business initiated by private members but taken up in Government time.

Role of the President’s Address in India

• Constitutional Provisions: Articles 86 and 87 of the Constitution address the topic of the President’s speech. 
• Right to Address Parliament: Article 86 grants the President the right to address either House of Parliament or both Houses together, requiring the attendance of members. 
  • However, since the Constitution’s commencement, the President has not exercised this provision to address both Houses together.
• Special Address Requirement: Article 87 focuses on the Special Address by the President, stating that the President must address both Houses of Parliament assembled together at the beginning of the first session after each general election to the Lok Sabha and at the commencement of each year’s first session. 
• Purpose of the Address: This address serves to inform Parliament about the reasons for its summons and is akin to the ‘speech from the throne’ delivered by the King of the UK to the British Parliament.
• Content of the President’s Address: Regarding the content of the address, it represents the Government’s policy statement and is drafted by the Government. 
• Review of Government Activities: The Address comprises paragraphs based on information from various Ministries and Departments, making the Government responsible for its content. 
• Scope of the Address: It includes a review of the Government’s activities and achievements in the previous year, policies on significant internal and international issues, and the Government’s business program. 
  • However, it does not encompass the entire probable legislative business for all sessions of the year.

Language in Parliament

Article 120: Language to be used in Parliament

• Language of Business in Parliament: Notwithstanding anything in part XVII, but subject to the provisions of article 348, business in Parliament shall be transacted in Hindi or in English: 
• Use of Mother-Tongue: Provided that the Chairman of the Council of States or Speaker of the House of the People, or person acting as such, may permit any member who cannot adequately express himself in Hindi or in English to address the House in his mother-tongue.
• Simultaneous Interpretation Facilities: In both the Houses, facilities are available for simultaneous interpretation of speeches made in any of the languages specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution into Hindi and English. 
• Requirement for Translation: However, if a member addresses the House in a language for which simultaneous interpretation facility is not available, he/she has to provide a translation copy of his/ her speech in Hindi or English. 
• Future of English in Parliament: Unless Parliament by law otherwise provides, this article shall, after the expiration of a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, have effect as if the words “or in English” were omitted. 
• Official Languages Act: The Constitution provided for English to be discontinued in 1965 but the Official Languages Act,1963 allowed it to be continued

Rights of Ministers and Attorney General (Article 88)

• Rights of Ministers in Parliament: Ministers have the right to speak and take part in the proceedings with the right to vote only in the house of which he has membership. 
• Participation in Both Houses: Ministers along with the Attorney General can take part in the proceedings of either House, joint sitting of the two Houses or any Parliamentary Committee.

Conclusion

Understanding the structure and procedures of the Indian Parliament is vital for appreciating its role in democracy. 

• The intricate processes of sessions, business, and official addresses reflect a system designed for effective governance and representation. 
• Maintaining these procedures ensures that Parliament remains a dynamic and responsive institution, upholding the democratic ethos of India.

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