3 days ago
India’s Monsoon Session Remains Unprorogued, Raising Opposition Suspicions
India’s Parliament has not officially ended its Monsoon Session.
Both Houses stopped meeting on August 13, but the session was not prorogued.
Usually, this formal ending happens within about a week.
The Opposition thinks the government may be keeping the session open for a political reason.
It suspects the government does not have enough votes to bring back a constitutional amendment.
The amendment is connected to delimitation and previously failed in the Lok Sabha.
Keeping the session open could allow the government to call the House back quickly.
A former parliamentary official said this is allowed by the Constitution but is unusual.
Forty-seven days after both Houses were adjourned sine die on August 13, the Monsoon Session had still not been prorogued.
The session’s continued status is unusual because prorogation normally occurs within about a week.
The Opposition suspects the government lacks the two-thirds majority needed to revive a delimitation-linked constitutional amendment.
That amendment failed in the Lok Sabha in April, according to the article.
A former Lok Sabha secretary general said the Constitution does not prohibit the arrangement but that he had never seen it before.
- Who
- The government, the Opposition, both Houses of Parliament, and a former Lok Sabha secretary general are involved.
- What
- The Monsoon Session has not been prorogued 47 days after both Houses were adjourned sine die.
- Where
- India’s Parliament, including the Lok Sabha and the other House.
- When
- Forty-seven days after August 13; the article does not provide a specific later date.
- Why
- The Opposition suspects the government may be keeping the session open because it lacks the two-thirds majority needed to revive a failed delimitation-linked constitutional amendment.
Opposition’s Suspicion
No Government Explanation Reported
Why the session remains open
Opposition’s Suspicion
The Opposition suspects the government lacks the two-thirds majority required to revive the delimitation-linked constitutional amendment and is keeping the session alive so the House can be recalled quickly.
No Government Explanation Reported
The article does not give a stated explanation from the government for why the session has not been prorogued.
How unusual is the arrangement?
Opposition’s Suspicion
The Opposition’s concern reflects that the session has remained open far longer than usual, with prorogation normally completed within a week.
No Government Explanation Reported
A former Lok Sabha secretary general said the Constitution forbids nothing in the arrangement, although he had never seen it done before.
Key facts
- Session
- Monsoon Session
- Adjournment date
- August 13
- Elapsed time
- 47 days after adjournment
- Normal practice
- Prorogation usually occurs within about a week
- Amendment
- A delimitation-linked constitutional amendment that failed in the Lok Sabha in April
- Required majority
- Two-thirds majority
- Constitutional position
- A former Lok Sabha secretary general said the Constitution does not forbid the arrangement
Sources
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