- The Indian Union government has called a special session of Parliament to be convened at the newly built structure.
- This session is significant because it represents the first formal usage of the new parliamentary facility.
An Overview of the Parliamentary Special Session:
- A special session of Parliament is a one-time meeting held outside of regular parliamentary sessions.
- The term “special session” does not appear in the Indian Constitution.
- It convenes in accordance with the provisions of Article 85(1) of the Constitution.
Procedure for convening such a Session
- The mechanism for calling Parliament is outlined in Article 85(1) of the Indian Constitution.
- This constitutional provision empowers the President to call Parliament into session, including special sessions, when needed.
- It states that “the President shall from time to time summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he/she thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between the date appointed for its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.”
The Historical Background of Special Sessions:
Over the years, the emphasis and format of special sessions of Parliament have shifted:
[A] Special Sessions with Debates:
- 2015: A special session was held to honour Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 125th birthday.
- 1997: Parliament met to commemorate India’s 50th anniversary of independence.
- The agenda for 1962 includes a discussion on the India-China war situation.
[B] Special Sessions at Midnight (No Debates):
- 1972: A session was conducted to commemorate India’s 25th year of independence.
- 1992: A special session was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Quit India Movement.
- 2017: A session was held to commemorate the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/special-session-to-commemorate-parliaments-75-year-journey/article67304410.ece#:~:text=As%20per%20the%20Rajya%20Sabha,of%20Office)%20Bill%2C%20to%20%E2%80%9C