Topics Covered: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Termination of Session:
A sitting of Parliament can be terminated by adjournment or adjournment sine die or prorogation or dissolution (in the case of the Lok Sabha).
Adjournment: It suspends the work in a sitting for a specified time, which may be hours, days or weeks.
Adjournment sine die: It means terminating a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period.
In other words, when the House is adjourned without naming a day for reassembly.
- The power of adjournment as well as adjournment sine die lies with the presiding officer (Speaker or Chairman) of the House.
Prorogation: The President issues a notification for prorogation of the session after the business of a session is completed and the presiding officer declares the House adjourned sine die. The President can also prorogue the House while in session.
Dissolution: Only the Lok Sabha is subject to dissolution. Rajya Sabha, being a permanent House, is not subject to dissolution.
- A dissolution ends the life of the existing House, and a new House is constituted after general elections are held.
- The President is empowered to dissolve the Lok Sabha.
Why in News?
The Lok Sabha adjourned sine die recently in what is being termed one of the shortest sessions in India’s parliamentary history, but which was packed with 25 Bills.
- In this session, Lok Sabha productivity clocked at 167% with 25 Bills passed; 2,300 unstarred questions answered; 68% of the sittings dealing with legislative work; and 370 Zero Hour mentions.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Who summons the Houses of Parliament?
- Powers of President vs Powers of Chairperson.
- What is adjournment sine die?
- What is dissolution of the house?
- Why Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved?
Mains Link:
What needs to be done to increase the productivity of both the houses of Parliament? Discuss.
Sources: the Hindu.
